The sound of hammers, Horned Frogs and nails began today as a part of an eight-week building project by the class of 2008.Frog House, which is in its second year, involves a group of third-year students raising money to pay for and build a house for a Habitat for Humanity family.
Sumer Jordan, Student Development Services assistant director, said building will take place during two shifts each Friday and Saturday for the next eight weeks.
The house will be located next to last year’s FrogHouse, about three miles from campus at the intersection of Berry Street and Interstate 35, Jordan said.
“Currently, we have about 18 build-days set, and we’ll need about 20 people per shift. That’s 40 people a day, which works out to be about 720, which sounds like a lot, but many people volunteer more than one shift,” Jordan said.
Eric Tabone, Frog House building and recruitment manager, said his job is to be the organized guide behind the project.
Tabone, a junior finance major, said he makes sure enough people are on site and that everything gets completed on time.
Volunteer recruitment wasn’t hard this year because people were aware of Frog House from the previous year, Tabone said.
Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring the building process, Jordan said, while students from the Leadership Team raised $51,500 to pay for the house.
Jordan said the Leadership Team is now focusing on getting donations to help serve lunch to the volunteers during building days.
Haley Hearnsberger, building and recruitment project manager, said being a part of Frog House has made her more a part of the university and she realizes she should give back to those who do not have the opportunities she does.
Once finished, the house will go to the Tenorio family of Fort Worth.
Alfredo Tenorio, an employee at Mom’s Food Products, will hopefully move into his new home shortly after April 14, the Dedication Day, Jordan said.
Tenorio has two children, Mary and Alfredo Jr., who visit him every other weekend. He said in a Habitat for Humanity biography he wants a safe place for his children to call home.
“I have had my windows in my apartment broken more than once and I fear for my family’s safety,” Tenorio said.
Tenorio said he looks forward to working in his new yard and watching his children grow up in their home.
Habitat has not yet confirmed the exact size of the house, Jordan said, but it will be smaller than last year’s house because the Tenorio family is smaller than last year’s recipients, the Thompson family.
Tabone said committee members encouraged people to sign up for a shift to build and offered students cupcakes at a kick-off party Wednesday morning.
He said he has high hopes for the future of the Frog House program.
“We do one house a year right now, and, honestly, I would not be surprised if I came back in 10 years, and they are doing five houses a year,” Tabone said.