With the 24th annual Strawberry Festival quickly approaching, Habitat for Humanity offers students multiple opportunities to earn community service hours. To put on this event, Habitat for Humanity of Brevard County, Inc relies on over 1,000 volunteers.

“We love having students at our worksites and Strawberry Festival,” Volunteer Coordinator Mollie Krell said via email. “We want them to have a great experience with us.”

The Strawberry Festival includes a Kids Korner, the second annual Berry Patch 5K Run, open car and bike show, arts and crafters section, entertainment, food and the featured item: strawberries. The festival will be held at the Wickham Park Main Pavilion on March 17-18.

“No experience is necessary,” Krell said. “All we ask is that you show up on time and be willing to learn and work hard.”

Students can use their volunteer hours towards their Bright Futures Scholarship.

In addition to the Strawberry Festival, volunteers help out with worksites, the ReStore thrift store, and in the offices.

“We have a wide array of things someone can do,” Vice President Charlotte Hutchinson said via email. “It all depends on where there heart is.”

Youth volunteers ages 16 to 17 can work on “active” worksites, while students 14 to 15 can participate in activities accompanied by an adult or guardian.

“I believe I have the best job in the world,” President and CEO of Brevard Habitat Joe Gassman said via emial. “I’ve learned more about faith, perseverance and love from my participation with [Habitat for Humanity] than I have anywhere else in my life.”

Like other charitable organizations, a decline in financial contributions has limited the outreach of Habitat for Humanity of Brevard, Inc. Habitat needs help in the community to help spread its mission and vision.

By Taylor Eenhuis