Habitat walks for local homes

Abby Loomis Staff Writer

After the Founder’s Day haze clears, a group of students will be putting on their sneakers for the Habitat for Humanity walkathon on May 1. The walkathon, held to benefit Habitat for Greater Newburgh, was organized by Habitat Executive Board member Eliza Pesuit.

Habitat has done all of its builds this year at the site in Newburgh and has met many of the people working in that community. Recently, Executive Board members Chris Webber ’05 and Matt Pei ’05 organized a panel on affordable housing that included both Habitat for Greater Newburgh Director Dave McTamaney and Habitat homeowner Gerry Cruz.

“For the panel discussion we wanted people who were seriously involved with Habitat and could also be engaging speakers,” said Pei. “For his part, Mr. McTamaney obviously loves meeting new people and talking with them, especially about Habitat, so I think he saw the panel as a goodway to get his message out and meet some likeminded young people.”

The interaction that students had with McTamaney and homeowner Cruz at the panel was a precursor to the sort of mingling that Webber hopes to see at the walkathon.

“I’m hoping that the walk will strengthen ties with Newburgh, because hopefully it will be interesting and bring new students to the cause of affordable housing,” he said. “It also will allow Vassar Habitaters to meet and interact with members outside of the Vassar community, such as homeowners and other volunteers.”

Beyond forging community relations, the walkathon will also bring a lot of funds to Newburgh Habitat, something Pesuit emphasized. “It’s a community that has a lot of need, and we’re a community with a lot to give,” she said.

“Habitat for Greater Newburgh and affordable housing are great causes,” Pesuit said. “The walk is a great other way for our Habitat group to get involved in other affordable housing movements, beyond our weekly builds.”

Anyone interested in registering for the walkathon can e-mail elpesuit@vassar.edu.