By: Matthew Azzarano

Holy Family’s Habitat for Humanity Chapter is taking its annual challenge trip to  Mandeville, Louisiana, this year with the purpose of “building vital housing for the disadvantaged.” Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization operating in all 50 U.S. States and in over 70 countries worldwide.

The club posts regularly on its Instagram page about club information, upcoming events, and will be posting daily when they are in Louisiana. So, don’t hesitate to give them a follow to stay up to date. Members are excited as this is their first time going to The Pelican State. Although the group’s main focus is building a home, there will be some downtime when the club will be able to travel around a bit and enjoy local scenery and attractions. 

Campus Chapter Director Michael Ferriello (Accounting, 2026) has been a part of Habitat for Humanity for four years. He explained how rewarding the work is, saying, “seeing the house at the beginning of the trip and then seeing the work that you put into it is really amazing.” Ferriello said this club not only helps families in need, but also positively impacts the members of the club as well. Additionally, Ferriello reflected on his time in Habitat as well as his responsibility as a chapter leader and said, “I know what this club has done for me, and I’m trying to give that experience to younger members.”

Faculty members are also a part of this club and help throughout the year with all that goes into making this experience possible. Dr. Bramer, Associate Professor for the School of Arts & Sciences, is just one of the faculty members who has been attending the trip and working with the club since 2017. Dr. Bramer explained how Holy Family’s Habitat crew is “as good as any and better than most Habitat for Humanity chapters…The work in and of itself is challenging, but every place HFU’s crew has visited has asked us–has begged us to come back”, said Dr. Bramer.

When asked if there has been a trip that has significantly impacted him personally, although every trip has, Dr. Bramer explained how the 2019 trip to Laredo, Texas, “was easily one of the most powerful experiences I had”. From building two houses on the Rio Grande River, battling 100-plus degree temperatures, to watching people try to cross the U.S.–Mexico border, the trip was filled with the expected but also the unexpected. Furthermore, Dr. Bramer jokingly expressed how “no one in their right mind would pick this as their spring break,” and yet “everyone was down there doing it.” Seeing that engagement and commitment from students and the community “really burned into me that this is the spirit of what Habitat For Humanity is about”, said Dr. Bramer.

Students are able to join the club throughout the fall semester each year and commit to fundraising, volunteer work, community service, and eventually the anticipated spring break trip.

 Matthew Azzarano is a Junior and is a contributing news editor for the HFU newspaper Tri-Lite. He is a PPES major and plans to graduate in 2027.