UW-Green Bay Habitat for Humanity help families find a place to call home
UW-Green Bay Habitat for Humanity visited Taos, New Mexico over the week of Jan. 12 to help build, organize and restore buildings for local families to have a place to call home.
Shelby Smith (Communication) took charge of the Life at UWGB Instagram page during the trip to Taos, posting photos and keeping the UW-Green Bay community updated on how they were helping the community.
Smith said members of the group stayed busy every day of the trip. The fourth day of their trip consisted of tiling, grouting floors and painting house lot signs. Even in New Mexico, the group could not escape the snow! On the final day, members made final touches on the houses, but also celebrated their work with some fun in the snow. Snowball fights and saying goodbye to the connections they made in Taos capped off a fantastic trip. While there, members of the group got to meet the family they helped build a home for, and they experienced a home dedication ceremony.
During their off times, members were able to appreciate the beauty of the area. On the second day of visiting Taos, they hiked to see an ice cave at nearly 8,000 feet of elevation. This trip is captured in the photo above. They also visited Black Rock Hot Springs, hiked Vista Verde Trail Head, drove the Enchanted Circle and experienced the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. This was all part of their Cultural Day to better understand the community they were going to serve.
Past trips for the UW-Green Bay chapter included home builds in Hawaii, Illinois and North Carolina. The organization also visited Taos during winter break trip 2015.
For members of the group, the trip was a life-changing experience. On Instagram, they write, “There’s nothing better than traveling with friends, both old and new, and doing good in a community far away from your own. That’s the power of Habitat for Humanity.”
If you are interested in joining UWGB Habitat for Humanity, find the org on Instagram and Facebook, and look for its booth at the Spring OrgSmorg!
UWGB Habitat for Humanity, New Mexico Trip
UWGB Habitat for Humanity, New Mexico Trip
UWGB Habitat for Humanity, New Mexico Trip
UWGB Habitat for Humanity, New Mexico Trip
UWGB Habitat for Humanity, New Mexico Trip
Story by Emily Gerlikovski. Photos from Shelby Smith.
