Students learn more than carpentry in annual Habitat for Humanity trip

ASHEBORO — There are so many lessons to learn when volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Just ask University of Georgia students spending their spring breaks to help build affordable homes.

UGA students were in Randolph County for the 25th year, this time helping build homes on McMasters Street in Asheboro. 

Dave Cannon, site supervisor for Habitat of Randolph County, called the 16 students “by far the best crew we’ve had.”

Unfortunately, they were in town for just the week of March 2-7. But they took back to Athens, Ga., experiences that won’t soon be forgotten.

Eric Sherman, a junior political science major from Dunwoody, Ga., was in Asheboro for the first time. He said fellow students at UGA had plans to go out of the country for spring break, but he didn’t want to spend so much money.

“I was looking for a spring break opportunity and found this program at the last moment,” Sherman said. “It was a chance to get out of the house and travel.

“I’ve learned a lot, specifically regarding tools and building homes,” he said. But other lessons were how Habitat helps people “get out of poverty. Housing is so important. It’s one less thing to worry about so they can focus on other aspects when they have affordable housing. I compare (unaffordable housing) to food insecurity. It’s hard for them to focus on other things.”

As a political science student, Sherman believes that “it’s important that anyone who represents the country is involved with uplifting low-income communities.”

The Sherman family, he said, “collects used books to distribute to low-income schools in Atlanta and we stock free libraries. There are tons of ways to help.”

He called working with Habitat “a great experience,” and a big part of it is to “understand other areas of poverty and helping others in general.”

In Asheboro for the second year was Camila Del Olmo-Colon, a senior biology major from Athens. She said she returned because “I loved working with it last year and I wanted to come back and do more. They’re such nice people and it’s a great community.”

Olmo-Colon called the trip to Asheboro “a combo of physical labor and social issues. Working with Habitat means so much to help people in need. And we work with wonderful people. I like Asheboro. Everyone seems to know everyone.”

Habitat has become so instilled in her, she said, that “I hope to keep doing work with Habitat in Athens.”

Habitat for Humanity of Randolph County is currently building two three-bedroom homes, is finishing up a five-bedroom home and will start a four-bedroom dwelling soon. All are on McMasters Street and all have been assigned to families, who will perform “sweat equity” as part of their responsibilities as homeowners.

One such Habitat homeowner is Desiree Trogdon, who moved into her home in 2017. She earned her college degree in 2019 and was hired by Habitat that year.

Trogdon coordinates volunteers and more recently has also become mortgage servicing officer. She considers her own experience as a Habitat homeowner as invaluable in understanding the issues facing potential homeowners.

“It’s been so exciting,” Trogdon said. “It’s a unique experience working with other Habitat homeowners. We have so much fun, it doesn’t seem like work. And our volunteers are so kind and helpful.

“It’s wonderful to come back and help others become homeowners,” she said. “I help families with their budget. I want them to keep their home and to manage their money.”

As for the UGA students sacrificing their spring break to work with Habitat, Trogdon said, “It’s exciting to watch the students learn skills and get to know each other.”