Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University and Starkville Habitat for Humanity officials will break ground for the sixth Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity house on Monday [Aug. 11], at 10:30 a.m.
Students, along with faculty and staff volunteers, will build the house located at 84 Murdock Lane in Starkville throughout the fall semester.
Habitat's partnership with MSU is the service-learning component of the university's Maroon Edition First-Year Reading Experience.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum and local Habitat Executive Director Joel Downey will speak, with other university and Habitat officials in attendance. Keenum traditionally drives the first nail for the annual project, which this year received a $20,000 donation from MSU's Kappa Sigma social fraternity.
The Maroon Volunteer Center at MSU coordinates the volunteer shifts, which will be available Aug. 12-16 from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Shifts also will be available on Fridays and Saturdays through August and during September and October. Visit http://www.mvc.msstate.edu/ to sign up.
"Participating in the Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity home project is a great way for students, faculty and staff to help alleviate poverty and become more connected with our community," said Meggan Franks, assistant director of MSU's Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement. "The Habitat for Humanity project also is a great opportunity for MSU groups to combine fellowship and service."
For more information about the groundbreaking ceremony, contact Meggan Franks with the Maroon Volunteer Center at mfranks@saffairs.msstate.edu or 662-325-2208 or Peggy Branch with Starkville Habitat for Humanity at 662-324-7008.
The Maroon Volunteer Center is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MaroonVolunteerCenter and Twitter @MaroonVolunteer, using the hashtag #ServiceatState.
For more about Mississippi State University, visit www.msstate.edu. MSU also is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/msstate and Twitter @msstate.