Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan build Habitat for Humanity homes

The Illinois State University-Illinois Wesleyan University Collegiate Chapter of Habitat for Humanity broke ground Saturday for two homes to be built at 1204 and 1206 W. Grove St., Bloomington.

To view the photos from the double ground breaking, click on Habitat.

According to chapter co-advisor and Illinois State faculty member Tom Gerschick, the construction will mark the 15th and 16th houses built by ISU and IWU students. President Al Bowman attended the ground breaking ceremony and praised the students and faculty advisors for “putting your values into action to build homes that change lives.”

Both new homes will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, “green” building standards that mark a first for McLean County Habitat homes. The ISU-IWU chapter hopes to raise $80,000 toward construction of the homes and for a mission trip to work on other homes.

More than 450 ISU and IWU students have been affiliated with the collegiate chapter and have been building homes and providing fund-raising and support functions for 15 years. House blessings for the new homes will take place in April 2010.

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