By Tom Ganser
Correspondent
There was little evidence of the cold outside at the Feb. 3 late-night meeting of UW-Whitewater’s campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity as two checks totaling $52,600 were presented to support the work of the organization really fired up a room packed with students attending the first membership meeting of the spring semester.
Habitat for Humanity’s vision is “A world where everyone has a decent place to live” and its mission statement is “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”
Brittany Anderson, vice-president and fundraising coordinator for UW-W’s Habitat for Humanity campus chapter, presented Mike Vanderbosch, vice-president and fundraising coordinator for the Walworth County Habitat for Humanity with a check for $50,000 from the estate of Norbert Jeka.
The Walworth County Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of the UW-W campus chapter, as is the Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity.
As part of a campus program, UW-W students Anderson and her roommate, Megan Kinney, began visiting Jeka at Milton Senior Living, an assisted living facility, two and a half years ago when he was 80 years old.
During the first year, they visited Jeka once a month, and then began visiting him during the week and every Sunday, including Easter. Some visits also included sharing a meal.
“He had become a part of Megan’s and my family,” Anderson said. “We loved being able to joke with him and hear about his family and his past. We were even able to form a relationship with his sister, Nancy, and her boyfriend, Jack.”
“When he passed away last summer, his sister met with us and informed us that he had left us $50,000 to donate to our Walworth County Habitat for Humanity Affiliate,” Anderson said.
“Norbert was an amazing person who was always giving to others. His passing and leaving this gift just proved how remarkable of a person he truly was. I am honored to present this check in the name of Norbert Jeka,” she added.
Kim Brumm, one of the advisors for the UW-W campus chapter, said that efforts are underway to request that the $50,000 donation be applied to building a Habitat for Humanity house in Whitewater on land that has already been purchased.
Brumm also presented at check for $2,600 to UW-W’s Habitat Spring Break Coordinator Jenna Peterson in support of this year’s “Habitat Spring Break” in Albany, Georgia, March 22-28. Included in the check was $2,500 from the Kachel Family Foundation and $100 from two anonymous donors.
Brumm said that the UW-W Habitat has reserved 48 places for constructing homes in Albany, with 28 currently filled.
UW-W students will be returning to Albany for a second year in a row based on a unanimous vote.
“The students that went last year were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love that volunteers showed the students,” Brumm said.
“This [Albany, Georgia] affiliate is doing a subdivision of Habitat homes. They are well equipped for over 60 volunteers at a time, which means that they have 60 hard hats, construction aprons, hammers, safety goggles and gloves for 60 people. Wow!” Brumm added.
