On March 21 and 28, 2004, Scholars from the classes of 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 gathered at a construction site in Poolesville in order to work on a Habitat for Humanity project. Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit international housing organization, works to build decent housing at an affordable price for people who lack appropriate shelter. Scholars initiated their volunteer work with Habitat for Humanities last year, when they worked at a construction site in Silver Spring. This year, while some Scholars worked on siding, others worked on nailing door frames or on roof improvements. Scholars were able to grasp a firsthand understanding of the complexities of the house-building process. Patience and exactitude became our wonderful allies. Current sophomore Chris L. sums up the experience by explaining that "…doing volunteer work like Habitat for Humanity is a great thing because it gets us learning about the real world in a different way. Instead of books and pens, we've got hammers and nails. At the end of the day, you've contributed to something tangible and you can literally see and judge the oh-so-subtle difference that you've made for others."
