The youth build for Habitat for Humanity is a traditional yearly project for the National Honor Society. Wylie East and Wylie High worked together on this project to raise money for the Habitat for Humanity cause. They also worked on the build site together as a joint labor effort. This built community between the two programs.
“I like being able to work with High, forming a closer bond while we are doing good for the community,” senior Breanna Figuly said.
Both Wylie East NHS and Wylie High NHS worked Feb.2 and 9 in four hour shifts at a house in Plano.
Habitat for Humanity builds affordable houses for families in need. Part of the requirement for living in a Habitat house is that the recipients help build the home.
“Seeing the woman the house was being built for, and watching her build her own house was really memorable,” East Treasurer Sal Cervantes said.
Between the two schools, they earned over $4000 for the project. East raised funds by offering a week of alternate dress code to all students. Any student who wanted to participate paid $1 per day.
“We work together on Habitat because we represent Wylie as a community providing service to the organizations,” East NHS Vice President Leslie Snider said. “Both NHS organizations [also] volunteer at Relay For Life.”
Sponsors for both programs include: Wylie East: Amy May and Michelle Lindsay and Wylie High: Susan Fajardo and Leny Philipose.
“To Habitat, Wylie East and Wylie High are just one unit,” East President Kevin Saygi said. “The atmosphere at the site is so positive. It’s nice to be able to socialize with Wylie High’s NHS program.”
NHS isn’t the only organization to support Habitat for Humanity, many churches in the area also participate and donations are always welcome.
“[We] try to get as many different people to participate, it really is a great experience for everybody,” Cervantes said.
Figuly suggests trying to get a school-wide group to join in next year and get another organization represented from Wylie.
“I’ve done it twice now and it’s such a good experience,” Figuly said.