A chorus of buzzing saws and beating hammers echoed through the streets of a West Dallas neighborhood as student volunteers turned their tool belts into instruments of hope.
Building a home with Habitat for Humanity wasn’t just about earning volunteer hours for Jack Levy, a senior at St. Mark’s School of Texas. The experience offered a powerful lesson in how service and compassion can change lives.
“Working on a home build has shown me how much time, effort, and coordination goes into creating a home and safe space for a family,” Levy said. “It has also shown me how a home can not only have a huge impact on a family, but also on the community surrounding it.”
The idea for a partnership between St. Mark’s and Habitat for Humanity took shape in 2008, when the parents of Marksman John Michel suggested a project in which students work side by side with their families to build a home in West Dallas. The collaborative program has since grown into a longstanding service tradition, with the team helping build 20 Habitat homes, said Jorge Correa, St. Mark’s School of Texas Director of Community Service.
“It’s a great experience for moms and dads to work on a Habitat home with their sons or daughters,” said Correa, adding that faculty members often dedicate personal time to the projects. “Our maintenance staff has planned to have a Saturday build day each year.”
In February, students from St. Mark’s and Hockaday teamed up to construct their 20th home, building friendships along the way.
“I think it’s amazing that students from St. Mark’s can go out and do something great for the community while also meeting new people and making friends with their sister school,” Levy said. “I wish (we) could collaborate more often so students could get to know each other better.”
As part of the Junior Board, a student-led group that ensures Habitat for Humanity houses are fully funded before construction begins, upperclassmen steward donors and build community support. Juniors and seniors work at active construction sites, while younger students contribute by collaborating on themed designs painted onto oriented strand board used in the sheathing phase of construction, explained Correa.
Students also learn valuable lessons in community engagement, meeting the homeowner whose house they are helping build.
“Habitat sweat equity policy requires the future owners of the house to work alongside the volunteers each Saturday, giving our students the opportunity to learn from their experience and understand the reasons why their work as volunteers is so valuable,” Correa said.
Everyone should take part in building a home and making a difference in the community, said Jack Levy, calling the opportunity a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Friends who joined the recent build for the first time said they wished they had participated in the project sooner.
“If you want to learn how to work better with tools, this is your perfect opportunity to do that and build up your community one nail at a time. I’ve become a better teammate and coworker for sure,” said Levy, adding, “and my hammering skills have also improved significantly.”
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