Junior Lena Hatter and several other West Shore students volunteered through Habitat for Humanity at the recent Strawberry Fest at Wickham Park. Habitat for Humanity received around $6,300 from the profits brought in by the festival.

In order to receive a portion of the festival profits, Habitat for Humanity had to provide volunteers to manage stations including the bouncy houses and sack races.

“It was difficult to get a lot of volunteers because we needed around 20 per day,” Hatter said. “But in the end, it was worth it because we were able to receive a lot of money.”

The officers were able to enlist many student volunteers to participate, including non-West Shore students.

“I came to volunteer because Lena is my good friend, and I wanted to help her out with Habitat for Humanity,” Mel High junior Nina Kaufman said. “I’d also never been to the Strawberry Fest before, so this was a good opportunity to go and see what it was like.”

The festival is just one of the fund-raising activities Habitat for Humanity officers organize throughout the year.

“It made me feel better knowing that I was helping both Habitat for Humanity and my friends because I know they put a lot of work into organizing and fund-raising,” said Junior Zohra Mujeeb.

Habitat for Humanity next plans to host a walk-a-thon April 13.

“All of us have been working extremely hard on the upcoming walk-a-thon,” Hatter said. “I have hope it’ll turn out great.”

By Tyanna Tizol