Trinity College

Trinity Helps to Raise a Wall for Habitat for Humanity


	The Walthall family.

Thanks in large part to the dedication of the Trinity community, the first wall was raised during a December 4 ceremony at the Habitat for Humanity house at 76 Dart Street in Hartford. Co-sponsored by Trinity, the house is the future home of the Su Walthall family. Ms. Walthall is a single mother of four boys, Andrew (age 14), Robert (age 10), Matthew (age 6), and Alexandre (age 2). Director of Community Service and Civic Engagement Joe Barber represented the College at the event, along with a small but enthusiastic group of students who braved frigid early morning temperatures to show their support.

Trinity’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity is on schedule to meet its fundraising goal of $12,500 for the Dart Street home, which will then be matched by the College’s 1634 Fund – for a total of $25,000. The students have operated a car wash, organized a raffle, held carnation and candy cane sales, and in November hosted the first annual Habitrot 5K run, with all proceeds going toward the home-building effort. Members of the campus chapter also raised money by running in the Hartford Marathon/Half Marathon. Barber finished the full 26.2 mile course in just under three hours and 24 minutes, shaving two minutes off his time from last year.

The Dart Street project’s co-sponsors include The Greater Hartford Jaycees Foundation, U.S. Trust, and the Charles Nelson Robinson fund, provided through Fleet Bank. All the organizations have members building the home alongside Su, as she puts in her 150 hours of “sweat equity.” In addition to the wonderful opportunity for the Walthall family, the new home is a source of excitement and renewal in Hartford’s South End, providing one more family with a safe and affordable place to live.

Habitat for Humanity International seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races, and religions to build houses around the world. Founded in 1976, the group’s work has provided more than 750,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. The Hartford affiliate received its charter in 1989 and on October 25, 2003 dedicated its 100th home.

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