Habitat for Heroes, a program new to campus this semester, is focused on providing assistance for veterans of Faulkner County and gives students the opportunity to volunteer in the community.

The Habitat for Heroes program works with Habitat for Humanity to “provide home repairs and assistance for veterans who are unable to complete them on their own,” Catherine Swift, transitional reading faculty and Minton Commuter College master said.

The program is open to all UCA students.

Swift said the group was active for two semesters, fall 2009 and spring 2010, but that it gradually fell apart.

She said she hopes she can revamp the program at UCA.

The program helps to “open the idea of serving Habitat for Humanity on campus,” she said.

Sophomore Clifton Egle, Sigma Nu philanthropy chairman, said he believes the program should stick around on campus. Coordinators have been working with Hendrix and UCA for students who can volunteer throughout Faulkner County.

So far the program has received a grant for about $2,000 from the UCA Foundation. Swift said the money would go toward purchasing tools and instruments that would be needed in helping with the repairs.

Currently, Swift said she is not sure from where the group will receive further funding because it is new to campus, but that the gesture of volunteering is more important than funding.

“Funding is secondary to volunteering,” she said. “We need to bring energy and enthusiasm to this project. We can partner with other established, more experienced H4H volunteers and learn on the job. The key factor is the commitment from our campus to help make a positive impact in our community.”

Swift said the program has requirements similar to those of Habitat for Humanity’s guidelines, in that individuals seeking assistance must have a certain income and willingness to participate with the group. Applicants must be unable to do repairs on their own. The program also gives applicants the opportunity to apply for low-interest loans for repairs, she said.

The group held its first meeting on Jan. 15 and the next meeting will be during x-period Jan. 29 in Main 112.

Swift said her goal is to volunteer in each town or city in Faulkner County by the end of the semester.

Egle said the program gives students a chance to volunteer locally and has given him the chance to “do a good job while having fun helping out veterans in the area.”

He said the last veteran’s house they helped to pick up was a “funny guy” who joked around with the workers while they worked on his house.

Swift said she is unsure of how long the group will remain on campus and that student interest and participation will play a huge role in determining how long the group sticks around.

“The extent of student interest and involvement will determine UCA’s ongoing participation with [Habitat for Humanity],” she said. “I am committed to supporting our partnership with this organization, so long as we have students who are active in this civic outreach program.”

Students do not have to be familiar with construction projects to join the group, Swift said.

“As long as you’re willing to learn on the job, there’s a wide variety of projects to take on within the capabilities of an average citizen,” she said.

So far, students have gone with Habitat for Humanity to serve the Habitat for Heroes program twice this semester.

About 10 Sigma Nu members have helped with the past two Habitat for Heroes projects. Egle said students do not have to have a background in construction projects to be able to help.

“A little bit of experience is useful,” he said. “However, most of the things we help out with, such as putting up drywall and painting, can easily be done without previous experience.”

He said the students helped to clean up a yard and porch of a veteran’s home near Lake Conway so that workers could come in later in the week to tear down the porch.

“We just provide labor when needed,” Egle said.

He said his group members provide four trucks for the program to help move supplies.

Egle said he’s glad to be able to work with Shenel Sandidge, Habitat for Humanity of Faulkner County executive director.

“I would like to compliment Shenel, she’s very generous,” he said. “It’s been great working with [the program]so far.”

Students who show an active role in the group have the opportunity to fill the UCA student position on the Habitat for Humanity of Faulkner County advisory board.

“It’s a great leadership opportunity within the community,” Swift said.