Helping Hands Unite

3/1/10
By Shelley Smith, salisburypost.com

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Stanly Community College students came together Saturday for a community service project on the new Habitat ReStore, priming and painting walls.

The two schools are part of the central division of the N4CSGA, a state-wide Student Government Association organization, and were challenged at their state conference to complete a community service project.

The original plan was for 48 students from various community colleges in the area to split their time working at the new ReStore and at a Habitat house in Salisbury. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, and the group had to reschedule to Saturday, reducing the original 48 students to 20.

But they still got a lot done.

The group primed and painted from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., working on walls in the stock room and item drop-off/pickup area.

"We wanted to combine our schools and do a day of service," Natasha Lipscomb, SGA advisor for RCCC, said.

"The word 'community' is in 'community college,'" Gilbert Umberger, SGA advisor for SCC, said. "It's important for our students to get involved in our community."

RCCC's SGA president, Elana Miles, said she was proud of everyone who came to volunteer Saturday.

"It's a lot to ask for someone to give up a Saturday," she said. "But it's all about giving back."

Umberger said the project provided a great learning opportunity for students.

"We try to teach our students collaboration and networking," said Umberger. "We've got a terrific relationship with RCCC."

Mills said RCCC and SCC work together a lot throughout the year, bouncing ideas and projects off of each other as much as possible.

"That's the unity of community college," Alisha Chandler, president of the SCC's SGA, said.

"We're always back and forth on fun stuff and serious stuff," Lipscomb said.

The central division group chose Habitat for Humanity as their service project because of the work the organization does for the communities across the state.

"Just about everyone from our division wanted Habitat," said Miles. "You can do so many different things helping Habitat."

Bob Lake, a long-time volunteer for Habitat, supervised the students Saturday and said Habitat can use all the help they can get.

"Every wall a volunteer paints means less we have to pay contractors," Lake said. "The money saved can go into a house."

The new Habitat ReStore, a 20,000 square foot facility, will be located at 1707 S. Main St. Rowan County Habitat hopes to open the store in the near future.

Those interested in volunteering for Habitat can call (704) 642-6292 for more information.