Volunteers to build house

While many IU students will be enjoying an extra day off this weekend, a group of volunteers will spread the message of diversity while building a home with Habitat for Humanity's Diversity Build Saturday. Religious leaders representing the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faiths, as well as international student groups, will be present at the build's opening ceremony. Chancellor Sharon Brehm, Associate Vice Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs Gloria Gibson and Director of the Monroe County Habitat chapter Kerry Thomson will speak.\n"We feel there is no better way to heal our local community than to bring people of all different faiths, traditions, and national origin together to focus on positive community that can be built through very simple acts," Thomson said. "We feel that it is especially appropriate for this event to occur at the time that our nation honors the memory of Dr. King."\nParticipating groups echoed Thomson's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of celebrating diversity.\n"I am particularly impressed by Dr. King's commitment to an inclusive world perspective," Brehm said. "Such a transcendent perspective can create cooperative interactions in which the benefits for individuals and communities are so much greater than a simple addition of the specific contributions being made."\n Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Christian housing ministry, builds homes for low income households in the United States and abroad. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built over 100,000 homes and provided more than 500,000 people with safe, affordable shelter, according to www.habitat.org.\n Homes built by Habitat cost on average $46,600, to be paid by a no-interest mortgage. The homes are simple, and are constructed with locally available building materials. They are also built with volunteer labor, keeping costs down. Builds occur year-round, and housing is erected quickly and efficiently.\nBloomington Mayor John Fernandez agreed the work done makes the Bloomington community a better place.\n"The houses being built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers provide individuals and families with the opportunity to realize the dream of owning a home and the chance to become part of a neighborhood," Fernandez said. "Community service and volunteerism represent an essential part of Bloomington's character. Because of the service of Habitat for Humanity volunteers, Bloomington is a much better place for all of us."\nThe site of this weekend's build is 2415 S. Bryan St., near Broadview Elementary School. Volunteers will work from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday building a home for the Pete Morosa family. Pete, a single father who works as a custodian at the Monroe County Public Library, will aid in the construction of his new home.\nVolunteering organizations include Beth Shalom Temple, Cherry Hill Christian Center Church, Evangelical Community Church, First United Methodist Church, IU International Students, Quakers Society of Friends, St. Paul Catholic Center, Trinity Episcopal Church and Unitarian-Universalist Congregation. Plans are still being finalized with Hillel Jewish Student Center, the Islamic Mosque, and the Tibetan Community.