Fifth Annual Trick or Treat for Change to Benefit Habitat for Humanity

If some of next week's trick-or-treaters seem a little taller and older, it might be one of the more than 450 students from Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University conducting their annual Trick or Treat for Change to benefit the ISU-IWU Habitat for Humanity.

On Friday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m., students will canvass neighborhoods throughout Bloomington and Normal collecting donations to defray the costs of the 14th consecutive, student-built Habitat house.  Ground was broken last month on the latest Habitat for Humanity house, located on Vernon Street in Normal. 

ISU-IWU Habitat for Humanity is one of the most successful HFH collegiate chapters based on the amount of money it has raised and the number of homes it has built.  Two years ago, the trick or treat effort raised more than $6,100 in two hours; last year they raised over $15,000 (including a large contribution from a member of the ISU Board of Trustees.  Last year the group's total fundraising topped $50,000, which they are hoping to increase by 30 percent in this school year.

Further information is available from Gerschick at tjgersch@ilstu.edu or (309) 438-3734.

Tom Gerschick, co-advisor to ISU Habitat for Humanity, said the group has ambitious goals this year which include building two homes a year beginning next school year, traveling to the Gulf Coast during spring break to aid in ongoing post-hurricane relief efforts and funding a house in Haiti.  The chapter, which won second place in the Illinois finalist for Illinois College Consortium Carter Partnership Award, hopes to reach a $100,000 a year fundraising goal.

Gerschick said he is hoping to establish new partnerships with colleagues across the university and community to promote service learning and advance the mission of Habitat for Humanity.