Participants
Participation in Youth United includes schools, faith-based or civic groups, and individuals. Some youth choose to be involved in the Executive Committee and Youth United events. Others work locally within their school or other group, but send construction volunteers and funding to the Youth United program. See below for more information about each group’s involvement. Individuals from the following schools are also participating: Morris Catholic High School, St. Elizabeth’s High School and Whippany High School.
Morristown High School
Morristown High School Campus Chapter was founded in 1999 and accredited in 2000. As Morris Habitat’s first official campus chapter, they have been faithful supporters by working on multiple sites throughout Morristown and Morris County. In addition to construction, Morristown High School has volunteered at Morris Habitat’s Annual Bike & Hike and other events. Each year a donation of at least $1,000 is made to the local affiliate and $100 to Habitat International.
During Act! Speak! Build! Week in April, students raise funds through Dinner at Chevy’s, Amazing Race, and Out in a Box. Advocacy for the need for affordable housing is equally important so the students write letters to politicians, speak at local elementary schools and participate in programs for freshmen and 8th graders.
Morristown High School is also a co-founder of Youth United, a program whose goal is to plan, fundraise for and organize construction of a student built house in 2006! Students have been instrumental in every aspect of the program including education, advocacy, fundraising and construction.
Parsippany Hills High School
As one of the co-founding schools for Youth United, the Habitat for Humanity Club at Parsippany Hills High School is steadily expanding to involve more members and do more fundraising throughout the school year. Through candy sales, car washes, and a basketball game with the Parsippany Police, the school has raised over $3,000 towards Youth United.
Act! Speak! Build! Week is one of excitement for the school club, as members heighten advocacy efforts and campaign for awareness across the school. Events include a raffle and a competition between grades in which paper houses can be purchased for $1.00 to be donated to Youth United. PHHS also participates in a fundraiser at Chevy’s Fresh Mex Restaurant in Morris Plains, handing out literature on Habitat to inform the diners. Chevy’s donates twenty percent of every dinner bill that night. PHHS is also organizing a fundraiser to sell personalized bricks that will go on a pathway being constructed at the school. With this club’s help, Youth United has made huge strides toward its goals.
Randolph High School
Randolph High School has been active since 2008. Members from this club have participated on the Youth United executive committee as co-chairs and grant writing chairs. Students have been on site to build in the cold winter and in the heat of the summer. They are currently sponsoring a Youth United T-shirt sale.