Salem residents and folks that work here might have noticed a wooden structure in a Roanoke College parking log that has gradually morphed into the pieces of a two-story home since the newest wave of Maroon freshmen arrived Saturday, August 22. Even though a lot of them don’t know too much about construction, Habitat for Humanity has it all worked out so just about anybody can volunteer.

“They threw us right into it,” said Kayla Mullins, member of Roanoke College’s class of 2013. “My sister [Tonya] told me that it was going to be my favorite part of orientation.”

Her sister was right. Even though she had a small part in what is a huge project, she helped nail some trusses together in a house that will be a home for a local family. The Roanoke College students signed the framework with permanent markers before their shift was up.

“Years from now when somebody goes to put new siding on that house or to repair something – Kayla and somebody else’s name might be visible,” said Teresa Gereaux, director of public relations for the college.

While Roanoke College freshmen built the first stage of the house, the Roanoke chapter of Habitat for Humanity will be working on the home until its completion in January. Habitat volunteers build on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To talk to someone about volunteering as an individual or a group, email volunteer@habitat-roanoke.org or call Steven Hammond at 344-0747 ext. 306.

Habitat’s website is www.habitat-roanoke.org.

The photos in the slideshow above are courtesy of Teresa Gereaux at Roanoke College.

To read Neil Harvey’s story that appeared in the Tuesday, August 25 edition of the Roanoke Times, click here.