Published on November 19, 2012 by Philip Poole  

For the 10th consecutive year, the Samford University community is supporting a special "home for the holidays" project with Habitat for Humanity and Birmingham's ABC 33/40.

Students, employees, alumni and their families will work Saturday, Dec. 8, to help build houses in the Center Point community for the Kimbell and Boyd families. At least 60 volunteers are needed for the day.

Volunteers are needed between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. and can work all day or a morning or afternoon shift. Campus Dining, Inc. is providing lunch for Samford volunteers who work a full day.

Also, volunteers must be at least 12 years old and must complete a volunteer waiver form. No previous building or Habitat volunteer experience is necessary.

Since 2003, Habitat and ABC 33/40 have teamed to build a house in December for a deserving Birmingham-area family. They enlist 10 corporate sponsors who build the house in 10 days and then present it to the family as a holiday gift. For the 10th anniversary this year, the project includes two houses. Samford is the only corporate sponsor that has participated all 10 years.

"This has become one of Samford's favorite holiday time traditions," said Molly McGuire, Samford's assistant director of alumni programs. McGuire is working with Anna Brown, community engagement coordinator in the student affairs office, to enlist volunteers.

"Samford's mission fits well with Habitat for Humanity's mission, and we've had a long-standing partnership with them. We're excited to be one of the corporate sponsors for the special 'home for the holidays' project for the Kimbell and Boyd families," McGuire added.

Debra Kimbell is a preschool teacher in the Woodlawn area of Birmingham. She has two sons who are students at Homewood (Ala.) High School, and she is working to complete her degree at Brown-Mackie College.

"Thanks you for making this dream come true," said Kimbell. "This will give our family the ability to grow both mentally and physically, and give us stability and responsibility."

Monique Boyd works at Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham and has two sons who are students at Tarrant Intermediate School.

"Homeownership has been a dream of mine for almost 10 years," Boyd said. "This will give our family the space we need. Thanks a million for this opportunity."

 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.