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Young Girls Trade Crowns for Hard Hats
Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio continues construction this weekend with hundreds of volunteers working side-by-side with families who will soon move into their new simple, decent and affordable homes.
“Volunteers are the heart of our organization,” said Sarah Arredondo, volunteer coordinator for HFHSA. “They help us do everything from standing walls, to putting on shingles to painting.”
The 2011 Miss Helotes and her court will don hard hats and roll up their sleeves Saturday to help build homes with families in need. The six girls are winners of the annual Miss Helotes Scholarship Pageant.
“Part of our lives is to volunteer…that is what we are taught as Christian people. We are taught to help people. That is what volunteering is about, helping other people,” said Maxine Banke, one of the directors with the Miss Helotes organization.
Each member of the Miss Helotes Court – comprised of Miss Helotes, Miss Citizenship, Miss Congeniality, Miss Spirit, a Duchess and a Princess – are required as part of the their pageant contract to pick and direct a service project, including any volunteering and fundraising that is involved.
“We try to teach these girls that you just don’t go through life looking for hand outs … you do the handing out” Benke continued.
For information on volunteering or becoming a sponsor, call HFHSA at 210-223-5203.
Directions: Old Pearsall Road and Loop 410; from downtown San Antonio, take 35 South (toward Laredo) to 410 North; take Exit #2 (Old Pearsall Road); turn Left and go under bridge; take the first right onto Excellence Drive; follow the parking signs.
About Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio: Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio is an ecumenical, Christian organization working with families in need to build simple, decent and affordable homes without interest or profit. Habitat families are required to put in a minimum of 300 hours of “sweat equity,” meaning they help build their own home, the homes of their neighbors and they attend home ownership education classes. In turn, they purchase their homes on a 0% interest, 20-year mortgage. Their payments average about $400 a month, or about half the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the city. HFHSA plans to build 55 homes in 2011. HFHSA was founded in 1976 as the first U.S. affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. The organization has built 713 homes in its 35-year history.