CSULB students make a difference

Volunteer • Jasmine Winfield, a second year political science and black studies double major, lends a helping hand at Saturday's Make a Difference Day. David Whisler/Online Forty-Niner

 

By David Whisler
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

Students and friends of Cal State Long Beach came out in force on Saturday to make a dream come true for a local homeowner.

Around 6:30 a.m. over 180 volunteers began to descend on the home of Nancy McQuarn armed with paint scrapers and brushes, carpentry supplies and the willingness to make a difference.

The event, which partnered CSULB students with the local non-profit organization Rebuilding Together for the third year, was a success.

"Every year it just gets more and more incredible," said Assistant Director of Student Life and Development, Brett Waterfield.

After being checked in and given their T-shirts and breakfast, the volunteers attended an impromptu orientation where they were given instructions for the day. Rebuilding Together's house captain, Katy Black, made it clear that the most important thing was safety, the second most important, to have fun. The goal was set to have the house scraped and primed before lunch.

By 8 a.m., the work was underway, among the tasks at hand was rebuilding a dilapidated fence, scraping, priming and painting the entire house and adjacent garage and making new screens for the home's 17 windows.

The crews of volunteers worked alongside licensed contractors, also volunteering their time, to complete the list of projects.

Groups from all over campus were present among the volunteers. Nearly every fraternity and sorority was represented, as well as Golden Key, Associated Students Inc. and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

Melissa Duque, a junior majoring in history and journalism, volunteered last year with her sorority, Lambda Sigma Gamma. This year she came back to participate in the planning committee and acted as a group leader for the day of the event, instructing members of her sorority, among others and helping the day to run smoothly.
Rebuilding Together facilitates two major projects like this per year. Typically they will tackle between six and ten houses on a given weekend. Once in April and again to coincide with Make A Difference Day, the fourth Saturday of October each year.

Nancy McQuarn was chosen as this year's recipient for the Cal State Long Beach project. She is a long-time resident of Long Beach. The retired Long Beach Unified School District crossing guard and mother of eight has lived in the home since 1970.

While watching the eager volunteers working on her house she exclaimed, "I feel so blessed, this is like a beautiful dream come true."

McQuarn was chosen from the many applications that Rebuilding Together receives each month. In order to be considered, applicants must meet several criteria. The homeowner must occupy the residence and agree to stay for at least two years. Rebuilding Together focuses primarily on the homes of the elderly, disabled and families with children.

By 10 a.m. the home was hardly recognizable, community members began to drive by and show up to see what all the fuss was about, some even pitched in to help with scraping or painting.

While the priming of the home began to wind down, Jasmine Winfield took a moment to admire her work. She is a second year political science and black studies double major, volunteering on behalf of the SAAC where she also serves as the community service chair.

As noon approached the race to meet their goal was on, painters were recruited from all areas of the job site and the group effort proved victorious, as the fence spanning the perimeter was completed the crew broke for lunch around the newly primed home.

After lunch the final coat began being rolled and brushed on as the elated and very grateful homeowner reiterated her sentiment from earlier in the day, "I feel so very blessed, thank you all, and I will see you in Heaven," she said.

Students wishing to volunteer for future projects are encouraged to stop by or call the Student Life and Development office, located in the USU - 204 for more information.