BERKELEY – Central Regional High School students have been getting hands-on experience with projects that they can really put their heart into.
The Habitat for Humanity Club has been taking groups of kids to help people in need, all while learning construction and other skills.
“It’s a great experience for the kids,” said Dennis O’Keefe, the club’s advisor. He said he started a club like this when he taught in Long Branch. Then he brought it over to Central. Based on their location, they work with the Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity and their program manager, Amy Schratz.
O’Keefe is the CAD (computer aided drafting), architectural and technical education teacher. In fact, some of the students use their computer designing skills in this capacity with the club.
One of Habitat for Humanity’s biggest projects involves home construction for families in need. Berkeley Township, in fact, has donated a number of empty lots in neighborhoods to Habitat as well as money to buy supplies. The town has an Affordable Housing Trust Fund which comes from a permit surcharge on all development – not taxes. When a developer comes in to build homes that are not deemed affordable housing, the town is able to give money to a group like Habitat for Humanity to help people with financial challenges get a new house.
Habitat offers several layers of things that the kids can do, O’Keefe said. They are working side by side with the family in actually constructing the house. Part of the Habitat experience is that the family being helped puts in “sweat equity” by helping the trained construction crews build their own house.
One aspect is fundraising. They’ve been working with NextGenTreesUSA where kids sell seedlings and collect a percentage.
There’s also the Brush With Kindness initiative. For people who are living in older homes that need some upkeep, volunteers will do painting, landscaping, weatherization and minor repair. O’Keefe said the students have been installing planter beds and cleaning up property.
“When kids go out for the day, they’re excited,” he said. “On the ride back, there’s silence as they’re reflecting on the day. They were overwhelmed with what they could do with their hearts and minds.”
