WHEELS Alternative Spring Break
Donation protected
Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School is planning a Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge trip to Washington, DC during Spring break. Our team includes 10 students and 2 teachers committed to researching, publicizing, and addressing housing and space crises in low-income urban areas. We have partnered with Habitat NYC, Habitat Collegiate Challenge, New York Cares, KaBoom, the National Honor Society and other like-minded organizations to fulfill this goal and have spread awareness with fundraising campaigns to make a difference in our community and others like it across the country. Our goal is to raise $3,000 by April 15 to cover the travel expenses and make a donation to the actual sites where we will be building. If you'd like to learn more about us please check out this short video.
Our school mission is to work with families to prepare each student academically, emotionally, intellectually and socially to succeed in a college of her/his choice and beyond. Participating in Habitat for Humanity and doing community service doesn't just make our community a better place, but it also help us be more engaged citizens and help other people who are in need. We want to work to give those in need of a decent home in Washington, D.C. that they can call their own. Rent and home sale prices are rising faster than wages, and the number of low-cost units is dropping sharply. D.C. does not have enough affordable housing to keep up with the demand of the 70,000 low-income renters waiting for homes. In 2009, there were 703 homeless families in D.C. and this number increased to 983 homeless families in 2013. We understand the inequality of living in a low-income area, so we are driven to work towards a cause worth fighting for.
Any contribution can go a long way, and as long as our service will help even one family, we know we will have succeeded. Members of our group have been fortunate enough to feel fulfilled by experiencing service in the past, and we can now share it with the new recruits who are just as eager to take part in our labor of love.
Thank you for all of your support of our school and this project!
Our school mission is to work with families to prepare each student academically, emotionally, intellectually and socially to succeed in a college of her/his choice and beyond. Participating in Habitat for Humanity and doing community service doesn't just make our community a better place, but it also help us be more engaged citizens and help other people who are in need. We want to work to give those in need of a decent home in Washington, D.C. that they can call their own. Rent and home sale prices are rising faster than wages, and the number of low-cost units is dropping sharply. D.C. does not have enough affordable housing to keep up with the demand of the 70,000 low-income renters waiting for homes. In 2009, there were 703 homeless families in D.C. and this number increased to 983 homeless families in 2013. We understand the inequality of living in a low-income area, so we are driven to work towards a cause worth fighting for.
Any contribution can go a long way, and as long as our service will help even one family, we know we will have succeeded. Members of our group have been fortunate enough to feel fulfilled by experiencing service in the past, and we can now share it with the new recruits who are just as eager to take part in our labor of love.
Thank you for all of your support of our school and this project!
Sincerely,
Ashley Hidalgo and Jailene Hidalgo
WHEELS Class of 2014
"This wondrous group helped us in our mission to provide low income families with affordable housing and most especially break the cycle of poverty. Over the years I have been encouraged and gratified by many groups of college students that have participated in past collegiate spring builds. Your students and their teachers however were very special and gave all that had the opportunity to be in their company just a little more confidence in the future leadership of our country."
J. Hayes Worley, Jr., Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, Board Member in a letter to WHEELS Principal Brett Kimmel after 2013 Spring break trip
Ashley Hidalgo and Jailene Hidalgo
WHEELS Class of 2014
"This wondrous group helped us in our mission to provide low income families with affordable housing and most especially break the cycle of poverty. Over the years I have been encouraged and gratified by many groups of college students that have participated in past collegiate spring builds. Your students and their teachers however were very special and gave all that had the opportunity to be in their company just a little more confidence in the future leadership of our country."
J. Hayes Worley, Jr., Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, Board Member in a letter to WHEELS Principal Brett Kimmel after 2013 Spring break trip
Organizer
Denise Bruxelles
Organizer
New York, NY
