By Gail Peckler-Dziki~Correspondent
On Sunday, Feb. 10, the Central High School Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter will host its first annual Kenosha County Family Fun EXPO. This event will provide people a chance to enjoy the many services rendered by local companies and vendors. Family fun is what this is all about.
The event will be held at Central High School form 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tickets are $5. Children under two years old are free. All proceeds benefit the Habitat for Humanity Kenosha County Chapter. That group has several housing projects planned in Kenosha County this year.
Children can enjoy bouncing on inflatables, having faces painted, balloon art, and a kid’s community mural project. Mad Science, Peter Hefty and The Milwaukee County Zoo’s Wild Theater will make sure all are entertained
The event focal point of is a kid’s cardboard construction site “Unboxed!” featuring the best toy ever – the cardboard box! This activity will invite creative thinkers to discover the limitless potential of this deceptively simple material. Participants will design, engineer, build, tear apart and remake their own cardboard creations.
Central Habitat for Humanity Chapter founder Trevor Foster explained, “Getting kids interested in any kind of building is a way to introduce them to building and making sure people have a home.”
Central Habitat is growing
When the chapter began last spring, there were18 members. At the most recent meeting, that number had grown to nearly 100, according to club sponsor Scott Kessler.
“I just advise,” Kessler explained in a recent interview with The Report. “The students handle everything.”
Student Zach Keller commented, “Don’t let him (Kessler) fool you, the man is a wizard with a hammer.”
Foster went through the normal channels to introduce Habitat to Central High School. He went through the student council and the decision had to be made, is this program in the best interest of students.
“During his sophomore year,” principal Lisa Albrecht said, “I could see that Trevor had a desire for community service. He first came to me with an idea for tutoring. I advised him to make sure he had a real passion for whatever he decided to do. He found Habitat for Humanity and he was set to go.”
The group has been engaged in a public relations plan that included entering a float in Bristol Progress Days. The group won first place.
Savannah LaBoy saw a flyer posted at the school about Habitat. Involvement in Habitat was a natural extension of the way she was raised. “I’ve also been involved in “Rebuilding Together,” a project in Chicago where some of my lives. We work on project like building handicapped ramps so people with disabilities have access to buildings.”
Emily Roe said friends encouraged her to become active with Habitat. Some members of Habitat have been involved in the Helping Hands food drive for holidays, as program put n by Westosha Lakes Church. Excess food is given The Sharing Center, located on Highway C in Trevor.
Sid Patel and Zach Keller were part of the original 18 members and both went on the building trip to Tennessee last summer. Both are active in events sponsored by Habitat.
Keller commented that area businesses are very familiar with Him and Foster. “Now when we walk in, they ask us how we are doing and what they can do to help us. The community is very much behind Habitat for Humanity at Central.”
The group is planning another travel trip to aid Habitat in another state this summer, but is also gearing up to help Kenosha Habitat for Humanity this summer.