Church youth participate in Habitat fundraiser

Among those who participated in a fundraiser for Habitat were (l-r) Karley Allis, Jessica Archer, Katie Kuter, Lauren McComb, DJ Norton, Jay Kline. Provided photo.

Church youth participate in Habitat fundraiser

Six youths from the North Chili United Methodist Church participated in a Southwest Habitat Coalition fundraiser held at the Henrietta United Church of Christ, Friday night November 2. This was the sixth year for the Shanty Town fundraiser. Each youth was responsible for collecting donations from friends, family and church members.

Participants built shelters out of cardboard boxes, duct tape, imagination and teamwork. The purpose of the event is to help the youth understand how it feels to be homeless. After building their shanties, the youths heard from Beth Tugwell, a representative from Flower City Habitat for Humanity. She explained the qualifications that must be met by each prospective Habitat homeowner and shared several videos from Habitat homes that were built in the recovery effort from Hurricane Katrina and what a Habitat home means to the new homeowners.

After several team building exercises, the youths and their chaperones headed out to their shanties to sleep during a very chilly 30 degree night. Saturday morning, everyone gathered around a campfire to share learning and for a closing ceremony.

In all, approximately 40 youths and 20 chaperones from churches in the Southwest Habitat Coalition participated in Shanty Town. The six youths from North Chili UMC raised $850, while the overall total was $3,300. The overall total represented a 50 percent increase from the previous year.