Student organizations are joining together in hopes of raising at least $6,000 for Habitat for Humanity during the seventh annual Shack-A-Thon this week.

Over the course of three days and two nights, 16 student organizations will come together to build and decorate wooden shacks on the Quad to bring awareness to the lack of affordable housing in the Syracuse community and across the country. The event is run by the Syracuse University and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry chapter of Habitat for Humanity. All participating student organizations donate the money raised to Habitat for Humanity.

“All proceeds will go toward the houses we will build for families this year,” said Marvi Najam, executive director of SU and SUNY-ESF Habitat for Humanity and a senior psychology major. “We will work closely with the local Syracuse Habitat to build multiple homes in the Syracuse neighborhood.”

Each student organization builds a shack and students live in them beginning on Wednesday and ending on Friday. Shacks will be awarded points in categories such as most spirit, best decorated shack, most money raised and most shack visitors. At the end of the week’s events, the organization with the most points will be recognized at an awards ceremony.

Many student organizations have returned year after year to support the Shack-A-Thon and its cause. Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. has participated in the event for the last few years.

“Last year, it was a lot of fun. It was enlightening,” said Pamela Martinez, vice president and social chairwoman of Sigma Iota Alpha and a senior English and textual studies and education major. “We learned about the issues concerning affordable housing and it was rewarding to be able to support the cause.”

Orange Seeds, a leadership program for first year students, will also have members camping out in its shack for the next few days.

“The lack of affordable housing is an issue that doesn’t get much attention,” said Julie Harnett, a member of Orange Seeds and a freshman secondary education in mathematics and mathematics major. “I am happy to be a part of an event that raises funds and awareness for it.”

Various other events will take place in conjunction with Shack-A-Thon to raise awareness and funds for Habitat for Humanity. From now until Friday, student organizations will participate in “Penny Wars” in which they set up tables in the Schine Student Center for people to donate money. The organization that raises the most money earns points for the week.

The “Hug a Puppy” event will take place Thursday, which will give students the chance to play with puppies and dogs from PAWS of CNY, a volunteer organization providing Pet Assisted Wellness Services throughout central New York. The event will take place on the Quad from 12–3 p.m.

“Date Auction” will happen on Thursday from 5–7 p.m. in Grant Auditorium. Students will have the chance to bid on a date with fellow students. Najam said the date auction has been one of the most successful events over the last few years. It alone raised $600 last year.

Shack-A-Thon concludes the next day with an awards ceremony from 12–1 p.m. to honor with the most points.

When the week’s events began, Najam said the event had already raised $4,000 through organizations sponsoring shacks. The end goal is to raise at least $6,000 after the three-day event, which would match the total funds raised by last year’s Shack-A-Thon event.

Published on September 25, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Derrick: deowens@syr.edu