Throughout the semester, University of West Florida students will have the opportunity to participate in various activities. But one campus organization, Volunteer UWF!, formerly the Center for Learning Through Organized Volunteer Efforts, is offering students a different kind of Welcome Week activity.

Building Community with CLOVE and Habitat for Humanity is a community service project where student volunteers participate in building a home with Habitat for Humanity International. The home building project will take place on Friday, Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 11. For the second year in a row, students will be able to volunteer with the Pensacola affiliate of Habitat.

Although this is the first service project offered this year, this is not the first time the two organizations have worked together.

“We have worked with Habitat for Humanity for as long as CLOVE has been around,” said Amanda Kay Crowell, director of Service Learning and Volunteerism at the University.

According to the organization’s Web site, habitat.org, Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that provides simple, decent and affordable housing low-income individuals. Founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller and wife Linda, Habitat has built more than 175,000 houses, providing shelter for nearly 900,000 people worldwide.

Last year’s Welcome Week home building project was the first time CLOVE and Habitat for Humanity worked together on a community service project. Volunteers helped with roofing and landscaping duties. The Habitat build site was located on the west side of Pensacola.

CLOVE, established in 1990, recently changed its name to Volunteer UWF!. Even though the name is different, the organization still provides community service and volunteer opportunities for students.

According to the group's Web site, Volunteer UWF!’s mission is to engage and empower the University community by serving both the needs of the University and the outside world, providing service and learning opportunities that encourage civic engagement.

“This project is exciting because this will be the first event since we’ve become Volunteer UWF!,” Crowell said.

Because this is the first service project of the year, organizers’ expectations are high.

“For some students, this will be their first look at Pensacola,” said Volunteer UWF! graduate assistant Robin Jones. “This will give them a chance to explore the city.”

Jones said that this service project is a good way for students interested in service to get involved with the organization. It also gives students the chance to learn about the different types of activities offered by the organization.

Last year, students registered more than 50,000 volunteer and community service hours through Volunteer UWF!

Although most of the positions for Saturday are already filled, there are some available for Friday’s project. In addition to seeing the city, volunteers will also receive a free lunch and shirt.

For more information on volunteer and community service opportunities, visit uwf.edu/volunteer or call Volunteer UWF! at 474-3114.

For more information on how to get involved with Habitat for Humanity, visit habitat.org or call 434-5456.

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