2008 Woodie Awards
'Habitat' takes Midd to Exmore
Erin Lackey
Issue date: 3/30/06 Section: Features
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A group of 20 Middlebury students participated in a Habitat for Humanity trip this past spring break to Exmore, Va., traveling to two of the poorest counties on the state's Atlantic coastline. The group's volunteer work focused on the rebuilding of local homes, with their work ranging from remodeling to landscaping.
Bryce Loidolt '07 and Ashley Asmus '09 co-led the group of Middlebury students to Virginia, while Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Administration Charlotte Chase helped them organize the trip. The students who volunteered their time paid for themselves and contributed to the donation of 2000 dollars made toward the purchase of supplies used in the project.
The group's initiative was to help the people living in the area of Exmore, Va. by rebuilding houses. Many of the city's residents do not have access to running water, and many people live in trailer year round. Bryce Loidolt '07 discussed his experience: "We had a lot of contact with homeowners who were already living in Habitat for Humanity built homes in the area, as well as with future homeowners whose houses we were working on. They took a lot of pride in their homes which encouraged us to take more pride in our work. We worked side by side with homeowners, " he said.
The students who attended the trip formed a deep bond with the members of the Exmore community and were very enthusiastic about helping out. The inspiration for the work that they accomplished came from the people they worked with.
Asmus described her experience: "Although this might not sound like much, I think it ended up helping the 'regulars' of the Eastern Shore volunteer crew a lot. Most, if not all, of the Habitat volunteers in ESVA are retired people, and usually a crew of five people working twice a week is all they can count on. My hope is that we gave the Exmore Habitat volunteers a leg up for the work they'll be doing in the spring and summer." Since so many individuals who normally work on these projects are older, having a group of college students invigorated their spirit.
Bryce Loidolt '07 and Ashley Asmus '09 co-led the group of Middlebury students to Virginia, while Assistant Director for Student Organizations and Administration Charlotte Chase helped them organize the trip. The students who volunteered their time paid for themselves and contributed to the donation of 2000 dollars made toward the purchase of supplies used in the project.
The group's initiative was to help the people living in the area of Exmore, Va. by rebuilding houses. Many of the city's residents do not have access to running water, and many people live in trailer year round. Bryce Loidolt '07 discussed his experience: "We had a lot of contact with homeowners who were already living in Habitat for Humanity built homes in the area, as well as with future homeowners whose houses we were working on. They took a lot of pride in their homes which encouraged us to take more pride in our work. We worked side by side with homeowners, " he said.
The students who attended the trip formed a deep bond with the members of the Exmore community and were very enthusiastic about helping out. The inspiration for the work that they accomplished came from the people they worked with.
Asmus described her experience: "Although this might not sound like much, I think it ended up helping the 'regulars' of the Eastern Shore volunteer crew a lot. Most, if not all, of the Habitat volunteers in ESVA are retired people, and usually a crew of five people working twice a week is all they can count on. My hope is that we gave the Exmore Habitat volunteers a leg up for the work they'll be doing in the spring and summer." Since so many individuals who normally work on these projects are older, having a group of college students invigorated their spirit.