Posted on May 14, 2008

Habitat women's rugby team

A family of seven will celebrate its new home Sunday, May 18, when Union College and Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County help dedicate the latest Habitat project.

President Stephen C. Ainlay will join Jeffrey W. Clark, executive director of the local Habitat chapter, at the 1 p.m. dedication by Michael and Kelly Harris, and their children – Sujea, 12, Sabrina, 9, Michael, Jr., 8, Isaiah, 8, and Samone, 3.

The College donated the house at 1124 Barrett St. in Schenectady to the local Habitat chapter two years ago, and the campus community has worked since last fall to help refurbish it. Hundreds of volunteers, including student, faculty and staff groups, pitched in on the renovations.

“You have all confirmed my conviction that we have a keen understanding of our sense of social-connectedness and civic commitment,” said Ainlay, in a note to the campus community.

The Union volunteers “can be proud of their participation in this project,” Clark said.

The Harris family, which currently lives in the Woodlawn section of the city, completed 400 hours of “sweat equity” and a financial background check to qualify for the Habitat home.