SHU Employees Work with Habitat for Humanity Chapter in Bridgeport

Fifteen Pioneers continue creating a little neighborhood in Bridgeport

Sacred Heart University’s faculty and staff recently worked on construction of new homes in Bridgeport for Habitat for Humanity (HFH). There were 15 volunteers for the day—13 SHU employees and two core volunteers or part-time volunteers that work on a regular basis with HFH—as well as the homeowner.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps strengthen communities by building or restoring homes where people otherwise could not afford to own one. According to HFH’s website, it carries out its work in every state across the U.S. and in 70 countries. Homeowners participate in the building process alongside the volunteers.

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

“Sacred Heart has been involved since the beginning of Habitat for Humanity’s CFC division,” said Anthony Orfino, CFC’s volunteer coordinator. “It has contributed through donations and volunteers.”

Habitat at SHU puts students and faculty together to work on local projects and raise awareness of Bridgeport’s housing crisis. The chapter volunteers work at least five weekends each semester.

Sacred Heart’s participants in the Bridgeport project included Brianna Bono, Emily Bryan, Brendan Capuano, Elizabeth Koscinski, Carlie “Pepper” Lavoie, Susan Luchars, Matthew Moran, Michelle Pagnotta, Deirdra Preis, Carrie Ramanauskas, Debbie Samilenko and Patrick Turner. The project comprised four houses on one street, creating a new neighborhood of Habitat residences.

“I started working with the SHU Habitat chapter my freshman year of college and became president my senior year. I was here at the groundbreaking for this address and project a few years ago; the outcome is very cool to see,” said Capuano, digital content producer at SHU. “Spending so much time on campus, it is nice to see the area that we occupy by getting out of our bubble and helping our neighbors.”

“I love that Sacred Heart faculty and students have the opportunity to volunteer with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity,” said Koscinski, communications specialist. “It’s a great opportunity to give back to the Bridgeport community.”

SHU’s Habitat chapter—one of four campus-based organizations in Connecticut—also gives volunteers opportunities to participate in country-wide trips or events that typically take place during spring break.

Photo inset: From left are Ron Hamel, Brendan Capuano and Beth Koscinski.