Student Organizations Get Creative to Raise Money

By: Ashley Roberts

Updated: 2:36 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Snip by Snip students had to dismantle their temporary homes on the last day of Shack-A-Thon. The University of North Texas chapter of Habitat for Humanity hosts this fundraiser annually. It gives student organizations the opportunity to help raise money and awareness for homeless people in Denton County.

This year the event only lasted two days and one night. Inclement weather prevented students from an extra day and night of being homeless. That was enough for some students. Brittney McCartney, a UNT Junior, is not used to sleeping in a cardboard box.

“It was kind of cold,” she said. “I would wake up several times in the night and have to get more blankets on top of me – I wouldn’t want to do it every night.”

Students were able to share their creativity with the community by making unique shacks out of cardboard boxes and duct tape. Some students painted their shacks, while others used flyers to make a collage.

They didn’t stop there. Some created mailboxes and palm trees to add a little spunk to their shack. Of course, some couldn’t leave their actual home without making a cardboard pet to keep them company. Javier Lopez, a member of Theta Chi fraternity, thinks the event is for a great cause.

“Everyome kind of benefits,” he said. “The students get to learn what it’s like to be homeless for a day, we raise money for a great organization like Habitat for Humanity, and also I think it fosters community spirit here at UNT.”

There was plenty of down time. Students brought couches, radios, and volleyballs to keep themselves busy. Tearing down the shacks was also a fun part of the festivities for some organization members. Habitat for Humanity officers were pleased with the turn out. It was the biggest turn out they’ve ever had.

“This is really important and I’m really proud that everybody just showed up and showed out,” said Brettlin Robinson, Vice President of UNT’s Habitat for Humanity.

They raised money by leaving plastic containers on a table for passers-by to toss change into. Each organization had their own container. The top three groups who received the most money were considered the best or most creative shacks. . .

This year’s winners:

• Best Overall Shack: Talons – Amount Raised: $240
• Best Student Organization Shack: Anthropology – Amount Raised: $76
• Best Greek Shack: PIKE – Amount Raised: $173

Total Amount Raised: $1,356.41