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Students shack up for Habitat for Humanity fundraiser

Members of organizations will live in the shack they built for the next week

Romeo Antolini (left), Chase Jarvis, Staff Sgt. Christopher Brantley and Riley Head build a shack in the Pit for Carolina Blueprint, a weeklong fundraiser.

Romeo Antolini (left), Chase Jarvis, Staff Sgt. Christopher Brantley and Riley Head build a shack in the Pit for Carolina Blueprint, a weeklong fundraiser.

Students began construction Monday on what will be their homes for the next week, scattering the Pit with wood and supplies. The participating organizations will be raising funds during the day through things like date auctions, cornhole games and puppies for donors to play with.

At night, Carolina Blueprint will hold events that the entire student body can participate in and donate during, such as a movie night and trivia night. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County will put the money toward building a home for a janitorial staff member at UNC.

Sarah Renfro, co-director of Carolina Blueprint, said the idea for the fundraiser, which is being held for the first time this year, came from a passion for affordable housing and the people who need it. She said she hopes it will grow in years to come.

“Our goal is to make this something that is integral to a UNC student experience, like Dance Marathon,” Renfro said. “Like, ‘Everyone has to live in the Pit in a shack for a week with Carolina Blueprint.’ That’s our ultimate goal.”

Students participating in the fundraiser will be required to have at least one student in the shack at all times during the day and two students at night.

Melissa White, co-director of the program, said the goal is to raise $10,000 this week. They have already raised $8,000 through preliminary donations and are looking to earn the final $2,000 by the end of the week.

Epsilon Eta, UNC’s environmental honors fraternity, is one of the organizations participating. Sophomore member Olivia Joyner said the high cost of living in Chapel Hill, and the advantage she has because her parents are willing to help her afford housing, inspired her to join the fundraiser.

“I think as students that we’re aware of how high rent prices are, but then to have staff members on campus that we interact with or see every day that maybe don’t have that same luxury, I think it’s just so important to help,” Joyner said.

Each organization’s shack will have its own unique features and themes. Joyner said Epsilon Eta’s shack will be a “Shackille O’Neal” theme, with a decal of the former NBA star’s face on display.

White said another benefit of an event like this is connecting so many different people on campus in a new way.

“Just seeing all of these different clubs from all over UNC’s campus come together and work toward a common goal, I think that’s awesome because everyone is from different niches on campus,” White said.

The closing ceremony will be Friday at 4 p.m., where the organizers of Carolina Blueprint will thank sponsors, reveal the highest-earning participants and present how much money was raised to the UNC staff member and his family.

“It’s kind of a way to give back to a community that already does so much for us,” Renfro said.

university@dailytarheel.com

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