Editor’s note: This is the second of a five-part series on volunteer opportunities in Ames. Anyone interested in volunteering can call the Volunteer Center of Story County at 232-2736, the ISU Volunteer Placement Center at 294-5254, or e-mail the ISU chapter of Habitat for Humanity at [email protected].

With over 65,000 houses already constructed around the world, Habitat for Humanity is helping the less fortunate fulfill a dream to own their own homes, and Iowa State students can help.

“The houses are paid for and built with donations, contributions and gifts from businesses, individuals and various groups and organizations,” said Annette Martel, media relations associate. “The houses are paid for by the individual homeowner with a no-interest mortgage.”

Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own time to help build houses. This reduces the monetary cost of the house and gives the family pride in their new home, Martel said.

She said the key to success is the volunteers who come from every walk of life.

“There are all kinds of people involved with Habitat,” Martel said. “As long as they believe in our cause, anybody can be involved. We get people from all over. We have church groups, companies, families, high schools and colleges volunteer,” she said.

ISU students from the Veishea committee, Freshman Council, veterinary medicine students, Greek Week participants and the ISU chapter of the Habitat for Humanity organization have all volunteered their time in the past.

“I volunteered with my Boy Scout pack in San Antonio,” said Jason Koelker, freshman in management information systems. “We restored a house that had been run down and had to rebuild some of it. We did it for a family that had been living in the projects of San Antonio. They really wanted a house of their own,” he said.

The organization is located in all 50 states and 60 countries over the world, according to their Web site. It was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, a self-made millionaire. Fuller and his wife decided to do something for the less fortunate and give back, so Fuller began to spend his millions on building houses for the poor.

A three-bedroom house built by the organization in the United States cost the homeowner an average of $38,000, according to the Web site. The prices of the homes are based on location, the cost of land, professional labor and materials. In developing countries a house costs $500-$5,000.

Marcel said new homeowners are not the only ones that gain something from the experience — volunteers benefit as well.

“For one thing, a lot of people volunteer because they want something that they will feel good about,” Marcel said. “But they get a lot more from it.

“They take with them the feeling that they have helped someone improve their life along with making friends and learning carpenters skills. It is win-win situation,” she said.

Koelker said he enjoyed the experience.

“It was pretty cool,” he said. “I helped a family that did not have a house before, plus we helped renovate the neighborhood.”

ISU students have worked on two Habitat for Humanity projects, one in Kelley and one on Wilson Avenue in Ames, according to a June 11 article in the Daily.