Many Milton students built their first home earlier this month—but they’re not moving in. Instead, they nailed, sawed and hauled lumber in Duxbury, Massachusetts, to help build a new home for a family they just met—and to work toward earning Milton Academy approval for an official chapter of Habitat for Humanity. In all, about 40 Milton students participated in the “build day,” putting in more than 100 hours at the site.

Ali Martin (Class I), president of Milton’s Habitat group, began the effort just over a year ago. Along with a board that also includes students Aidan Hardy, Andrew Hur, Amanda Faulkner, Kate Lovely, Allegra Palmer and HyunJin Kim, Ali hopes to further the mission of Habitat founders Linda and Millard Fuller, who recognized a global need for affordable housing.

Milton’s chapter-in-training has completed its initial work and educational requirements; this winter, they must complete documentation that will move the advocacy and approval process forward. They will also manage fund-raisers this year to support their organization’s work.

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide. The Milton chapter is advised by Rod Skinner ’72, director of college counseling.

Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built and sold more than 175,000 houses, providing shelter for more than 900,000 people worldwide. Habitat brings together people with resources and people in need to build simple, decent, affordable houses. The homes are sold to at no profit, through no-interest loans.

For more information about Habitat at Milton, email the conference on MiltOnline. For general info about the organization, go to http://www.habitat.org/