This year, Atwater Commons is once again organizing the “Home-for-a-Home” fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Addison County, VT, an event that the College has participated in for at least nine years. For those who are new or forgetful, here is how it works. Faculty and staff volunteer one room (or more) in their homes to provide housing for visitors during Fall Family Weekend. We then advertise the availability of these rooms to interested parents, and in exchange for this free lodging we ask the parents to make a significant contribution to the local Habitat chapter. This year, the suggested contribution is ~$130/night per room. We make it clear to all guests not to expect meals from their hosts.
This initiative has been tremendously successful in past years. The parents who express interest are self-selecting in the sense that they are always good-natured and genuinely interested in making some new and different types of connections with the Middlebury Community, and in the process we get to make a sizeable donation to the local Habitat effort. We are completely aware that participating as a host does not suit everyone’s style or housing resources, but please consider participating if you can.
Fall family weekend is October 11-13. The coordinating of rooms and guests is being handled by:
Peter Carothers (Representing Habitat for Humanity of Addison County)
802-388-2204, pcarothers@myfairpoint.net
If you would like to offer a room or have more questions, please get in touch with him ASAP. We already have requests coming in from parents who have participated in past years, so I think we are on our way toward another successful year. Thanks!
Peter and Michelle Nelson
Co-heads of Atwater Commons