Cumberland Students Build Again
Cumberland’s youngest carpenters have once again made an impact for safe, decent, affordable housing in the community. Last spring, the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity partnered with Cumberland County High School to build a storage shed for a local Habitat homeowner. Shortly after completion of that project, Habitat applied for and received a grant from Bike and Build, whose motto is Young Adults Pedaling for Affordable Housing. Participants in Bike and Build travel by bicycle across the United States each summer. Along the way, they raise money, engage in advocacy, and spend time volunteering at build sites. During their trip, they select various grant applications to receive funding.
One of the grant requirements is that the project engages local youth and young adults. David Sullivan, the carpentry teacher at Cumberland, readily agreed to lead his students in another build. Due to the generous Bike and Build grant of $1200, materials were purchased to build two sheds. Now that both are near completion Mr. Sullivan spoke of the hard work done by the students. “I’m really proud of this group.” He also noted the benefit to both the students as they developed their skills and to Habitat. “This is real world stuff that these guys will be able to use when they get out of here, plus we’re helping Habitat at the same time. It makes us feel good.” As the students worked on the sheds, they also learned about the mission of Habitat. Senior student Chase Cadd said of the project, “You’ve got to look out for your fellow man, make sure they’re clothed, fed, and sheltered.”
One of the sheds will soon be moved to the latest Habitat build in Dillwyn, and the other will stay in Cumberland as Habitat prepares to build for the first time in the county. Community Outreach Director Sam Rabon noted, “We have a partner family ready to build in Cumberland and now we are assembling a leadership team for that area.”
The Farmville Habitat serves the counties of Prince Edward, Buckingham, Cumberland, and Charlotte. Each county develops its own leadership team which meets monthly and engages in fundraising and gathering volunteers. “We are having an initial meeting for people who are interested in becoming involved in Habitat in Cumberland,” Rabon reported. The meeting is open to the public and will be held Monday, May 1 at 6:00PM at the Luther P. Jackson Adult Education Center located at 15 School Road in Cumberland.
Senior Joshua Smith, one of the student carpenters who worked on the sheds, responded to the fact that a home will be built in Cumberland County. “That’s great for the community, great for Cumberland County.”
