Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an international nonprofit organization that provides homes for families in need. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity International/Brian Myrick.
Vestavia Hills High School’s largest service club, Habitat for Humanity, currently boasts more than 200 members.
VHHS junior and club president Mason Cosby can tell you why.
“The club size can be attributed to the fact that we truly make a difference in people lives,” he said. “We have built nine homes so far; this will be the tenth. To date, we’ve provided shelter for nine families – that includes nine moms and 29 children.”
Cosby and his fellow club members are gearing up for their January build in partnership with Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, which provides 50 percent of the project’s funding each year. While focused on this month’s build, Cosby’s passion bubbles over at the surface, and he’s already looking ahead to how he can make an impact through the organization while he is in college.
“I helped a friend this year with fundraising at New York University as they started a Habitat Chapter,” said Cosby. “Habitat is a great organization and changes lives everyday.”
Cosby became involved in Habitat as a freshman at VHHS. He signed up for the club after his sister had a positive experience.
“My first build was pretty awkward,’ he said. “I signed up because one of my senior friends did and she was the only one I knew on the build and she ended up having to leave early. So, I started working with other people and getting to know them. By the end of the build, I had made many new friendships that would last until they graduated.”
Looking to the 2015 build, Cosby said they won’t know where there will be building until late January but they know it will involve building a house from the ground up.
“I can say from experience that by the end of the day, everyone will become proficient at the job they’ve worked on that day. All you have to do is show up. Don’t be afraid of messing up.”
Cosby says many Habitat families are affected by divorce and become single mom families.
“The home gives them something to be proud of and gives them something to work for to keep,” he said. “A home to help these families get back on their feet changes the direction of their lives and starts them on the road to becoming independent again.”
The Vestavia Hills Chapter of the organization builds almost every Saturday. For those wanting to help, contact mcosby3412@gmail.com. Donations can be sent to 2235 Lime Rock Road and checks can be made payable to the VHHS Habitat Service Club.
“As long as you can give a Saturday, you can help physically, but monetary help is always needed too,” Cosby said. “We finance and build the home so any donations will help tremendously.”
