TCU volunteers, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, began construction on FrogHouse on Thursday for a family of political refugees in an effort to help students reach outside the TCU community, said the FrogHouse adviser.FrogHouse is the official class of 2007 project. The junior class raised money last semester for the $51,500 FrogHouse.
Matt Owens, student fund raising director for FrogHouse, said the project gives students a chance to get off campus and lend a helping hand.
“It is something new and different,” said the junior Spanish and political science major. “Part of reaching that global impact is reaching outside that TCU bubble.”
Sumer Jordan, FrogHouse adviser, said the build will take 15 days of construction over six weeks. Students will work three days a week the first three weeks and twice a week the last three weeks.
Jordan said the idea for FrogHouse came from the third part of the TCU Mission Statement.
“Part of being a responsible citizen is being an active member in your community,” Jordan said. “Building a Habitat home in your community therefore answers the call of being responsible citizens.”
Owens said working on FrogHouse has provided an opportunity for good citizenship.
“The most rewarding part of it for me is being able to help others,” Owens said. “There are a bunch other people at this school who want to do the same.”
Diane Wolfe, media relations representative for Habitat for Humanity, said volunteering impacts the volunteer.
“In order to keep our homes affordable, the volunteer labor is absolutely essential,” Wolfe said. “The work of our volunteer labor also does a service to the people who volunteer because we give them an outlet for their concern for others.”
Wolfe said the FrogHouse, which has five bedrooms and 1,546 square feet, is the largest Habitat home model.
Jordan said the FrogHouse is located about three miles from campus at the intersection of Berry Street and Interstate 35.
Jordan said the family of eight, who will live in the house, is from Africa. TCU personnel learned of them about 10 weeks before the build was set to begin from Habitat for Humanity, Jordan said, but little is known about the family.
“We had requested specific information so we could share it with the TCU community,” Jordan said. “Again, it was very limited in what they would give us because they wanted to protect the family.”
In order to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home, housing must be financially unavailable to the family, the family must be willing to work with the volunteers on the construction of their new home and the family’s income must be enough to help with Habitat for Humanity costs.
Jordan said a ceremony to commemorate FrogHouse’s completion is scheduled for March 4.
“We will have a dedication of the house and the family will receive the keys to their home,” Jordan said. “It’s going to be amazing. It will be a really emotional moment for our students to really see the completion of their labor.
