A Place to Call Home

Students enrolled in the Construction Basics course at Brookdale Community College this summer put the skills they learned into practice by building a shed for Coastal Habitat for Humanity. It is the third structure students have built and donated to the non-profit organization based in Asbury Park, N.J.

“The whole beauty of construction is taking a pile of lumber that is sitting on the ground and getting a finished product of it. You have your creativity and you build something that is useful and that you love,” said the class’s instructor, Tom Moroz. The course is offered through Brookdale’s Office of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Kim Sambade, event and volunteer coordinator for Coastal Habitat for Humanity, said her organization is building a home on Prospect Avenue in Asbury Park. Upon completion, it will become the new residence for a Brookdale nursing student and her four young children who are currently living in a small apartment.

“The home we are building is a two-story 1,300 square foot home, three-bedroom home,” said Sambade.  “It’s an adorable home, and this shed is going in the backyard.” The home being built does not have a garage. The shed will store items such as bikes and outside toys.

“The mother doesn’t know this is coming her way, so she is going to be very surprised,” said Sambade.

Coastal Habitat for Humanity serves the southern coastal areas of Monmouth County from Wall Township up through Asbury Park. The group is an affiliate organization of the global Habitat for Humanity non-profit. While all affiliates operate under the Habitat International guidelines, each local organization is responsible for its own finances and can provide services to the homeowners in its area.

Sambade explained that the homeowner-to-be has been helping the volunteers with the construction of the home which began last summer.

For more information about Coastal Habitat for Humanity, please visit coastalhabitat.org/.