Students and members of the greater Middletown community gathered Sunday at the A.M.E. Zion Church on Cross Street to celebrate the completion of their combined efforts towards building a new home for a Middletown resident. Northern Middlesex Habitat for Humanity, Inc. and the University’s Habitat for Humanity (HFH) chapter completed their project at 34 Fairview Ave. the previous day. At the reception, volunteers were recognized for their time and dedication to the project.
“You all made my dreams come true,” said a tearful Jennifer McNeil, the new Habitat homeowner. “To the students, I know you guys all had a lot of studying. I love you guys.”
McNeil is a single mother of five children. She was chosen from the applicant pool for the 34 Fairview Ave. house almost one year ago, when reconstruction of the 19th-century house began.
The campus chapter of HFH was organized about nine years ago. Students collaborated with members of local South Church to organize the Northern Middlesex chapter, and the two groups have been affiliated since.
Several Habitat houses already stand in the Middletown area, including those on Hotchkiss Avenue, Newfield Street, and Washington Street. However, the Fairfield Avenue house is the first that was donated by Wesleyan University to HFH. Director of Auxiliary Operations and Campus Services Manuel Cunard worked last year with HFH student members Darrah Sipe ’07 and Edward Wu ’05 to make the donation.
“Wesleyan’s connection to the Middletown community through Habitat is one of the strongest,” said Wesleyan HFH student coordinator Mark Purser ’08. “Habitat for Humanity, along with other programs within the Center for Community Partnerships like the Green Street Arts Center and tutoring programs, acts as outlets for Wesleyan students to become directly involved in the community and also demonstrate that the university is willing to commit significant material resources to develop the Middletown-Wesleyan relationship.”
Two hundred student volunteers participated in this most recent project, as well as one hundred community volunteers.
“Without your help, we would not have been able to provide this family with a house, and we are indebted to everyone at Wesleyan,” said Executive Director of Northern Middlesex Habitat for Humanity Joyce Hatton Yarrow.
The house was dedicated to the Middletown community in general, including Wesleyan. It was seen as a testament to the University’s presence in and contribution to the Middletown area.
“This house has been a vehicle of blessing all throughout this neighborhood,” said Rev. Mary Klaaren of the A.M.E. Zion Church. “It is dedicated to the generous, creative spirit of the community.”
Both Wesleyan and HFH anticipate future projects together.
“We may be done with Fairview Avenue, but we’re certainly not done,” said President of Northern Middlesex Habitat for Humanity Richard Engelhardt.
HFH’s next project is on Huber Avenue, where Wesleyan donated its second house to the group. Reconstruction will begin next week.
In February, the Wesleyan men’s crew team will participate in “Row for Humanity,” a joint national fundraiser between crew teams and HFH.
Sunday’s reception was followed by a tour of the new Fairfield Avenue house.
“We look forward to having another celebration like this in the next few years,” said Vice President and Secretary of the University Peter Patton.
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