Amber Armstrong

VeraSun, an ethanol-producing company, donated $25,000, to Habitat for Humanity (HH) to help build a home.

SDSU organizations also contributed to the cause by either donating money or holding fundraisers. The house will be built by students and community members.

VeraSun owns the local ethanol plant in Aurora and one in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

The home will be built on Sixth Avenue South. Construction will begin in mid-April, and the family who will live in the house has already been selected.

“This is very exciting. We’ve worked hard this year to get this established. It’s amazing we’ve gone so far so fast,” said Scott Schramm, president of the SDSU Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Schramm was responsible for getting the project together by holding meetings with SDSU President Peggy Miller, doing behind-the-scenes paperwork and coordinating work activities.

“If you put your mind to it, it can be done,” Schramm said.

According to the Habitat for Humanity Web site, the houses built usually sell for about $50,000. The chosen family then pays the money back over a period of 20 years at zero percent interest. Families are picked by several factors including level of need, willingness to become partners in the program and ability to repay the loan. The family’s monthly mortgage payment is used to build more homes for Habitat for Humanity.

The SDSU organizations involved in fundraising or donating money include the Spanish club, Human Services, Residential Housing Association, Academy of Students of Pharmacy, University Lutheran Center, Farmhouse, Chi Omega, Golden Key, and Family and Consumer Sciences.

Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Christian housing ministry, has built more than 150,000 homes for low-income families during the last 30 years.

If you or your school group would like to participate, call Habitat for Humanity at 692-5601.