Shantytown raises money for Habitat, awareness about homelessness
Article By: Staff
University of North Georgia (UNG) students who built homes out of cardboard for the annual Shantytown fundraiser on the UNG Dahlonega Campus accomplished more than increasing awareness about homelessness Sept. 28.
The annual event raised $500 for the Lumpkin County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which helps low-income homeowners build houses with volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. The amount was a decrease from 2016.
"Last year, we raised $550," said Hannah Coltrain, the vice president of UNG's Habitat for Humanity Club.
The junior biology major from Canton, Georgia, explained the decrease could be attributed to some students groups not participating in Shantytown this year.
"This money goes toward local repairs Habitat for Humanity does on homes around the area as well as helps builds new Habitat homes," Coltrain said.
Shantytown also raises awareness about homelessness by having student groups build cardboard houses and requiring at least two members to stay in it all night long.
"While they do get to sleep under the stars, it drives home the point that people have to do this as a reality," Coltrain said.
The Habitat for Humanity club meets from 6-7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month in Newton Oakes 107. For more information, email Coltrain at hlcolt0807@ung.edu.
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