SHU Employees Lend a Hand with Habitat for Humanity

Pioneers volunteer to update a local home

Faculty and staff from Sacred Heart University recently got together to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity (HFH) of Coastal Fairfield County and work on siding projects on a house in Bridgeport.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that works in local communities to build and improve homes, partnering with individuals and families in need of affordable housing. Through their involvement, SHU faculty and staff directly support local families in moving toward stability and homeownership.

Sacred Heart’s HFH chapter works directly with the Coastal Fairfield County division, which has a warehouse in Bridgeport and hosts projects across the county.

“This partnership deepens Sacred Heart’s connection to the surrounding community and reflects the values of compassion, service and solidarity that are central to the University’s Catholic intellectual tradition,” said Annie Johnson, director of community engagement.

Sacred Heart’s participants in the project included Elizabeth Gwynne, academic adviser for undergraduate nursing;  Stephanie Clines, associate dean of faculty affairs in the College of Health Professions (CHP); Nina Martinez, senior accountant; Linda Higgins, administrative assistant to the dean of the CHP; Micheline “Mikki” Hayes, undergraduate admissions counselor; Michelle Reed, women’s rugby head coach; Roger Williams, adjunct instructor in the Welch College of Business & Technology; Pepper Lavoie, undergraduate admissions counselor; Nicholas Frega, campus minister for student engagement.

“It’s a powerful way to foster teamwork, personal growth and cross-campus collaboration among colleagues,” said Johnson.