Youth United

Youth United provides affiliates with a creative way of involving local youth, ages 5 to 25, in a effort to fully fund and build a Habitat for Humanity house while strategically pursuing four essential program goals:

Providing leadership roles for young people
Bringing diverse youth from different organizations, faiths, age groups and backgrounds together in meaningful volunteer roles
Actively involving Habitat homeowner children as volunteer partners
Engaging young people in Habitat for Humanity's mission and in their communities

The 2009 Youth Build will begin on Friday, March 13. Our goal is to fund and build an entire Habitat house. To do that, we have to raise $60,000 by March 9. To date, we've raised $24,000 towards our goal. Individuals, schools, church and other youth groups are encouraged to join Youth United and help us make a family's dream of homeownership a reality. All groups that pledge support for the 2009 Youth Build will help build the home. Groups must be 16 to build, but there are other ways for younger youth to get involved. Contact Crystel Hardin at 901.761.4771, ext. 210 or via email at chardin@memphishabitat.com for more information.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis' Youth United program was founded in 2007. In its first year, ten area schools, churches, businesses and organizations raised $30,000 and built half of a Habitat house. This year, the groups raised another $30,000 and gathered 320 volunteers for their second build, which began on April 5.

The 2008 Youth Build participating schools and churches were:

Bolton High School
First Assembly Christian School
St. Patrick Presbyterian Church
Craigmont High School
Memphis University School

Cordova High School
Houston High School
White Station High School
St Mary's Episcopal School
Germantown High School

Join us for our next Youth United committee meeting at the Germantown Library. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m on Thursday, December 11th.

Our 2009 Meeting Dates are as follows:

January 15
February 12
March 19
April 16
May 21
June 18
July 16
August 20
September 17
October 29
November 19
December 10

In addition to fundraising and volunteer needs, Youth United is also seeking hardworking youths of all ages to fill committee leadership roles. For more information about Youth United fundraising, committee and volunteer opportunities, please contact Crystel Hardin at 761-4771, ext. 210 or at chardin@memphishabitat.com.

To join our Youth United email list, please email Crystel at chardin@memphishabitat.com.

You can also keep up with various YU happenings by visiting our Memphis Youth United Facebook page!