The familiar sound of the carillon bells emanating from Old Main will have company this week. In the not-too-distant reach, the sound of hammers will reverberate Bowman Field as volunteers establish a framework for the 30th Habitat for Humanity home — signifying an annual renewal of one of Clemson’s most revered Homecoming traditions.
Student leaders from the campus chapter of the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity are once again coordinating this year’s build, which begins on Wednesday, Oct. 12 and concludes on Friday, Oct. 21.
“We have around 250 or 300 volunteers, mostly students, each year,” said Ally Bedenbaugh, a senior construction science and management major and this year’s Homecoming build coordinator. “We have a signup link on our Instagram account (@cu_habitat) and have flyers with QR codes all over campus and encourage anyone to come out and volunteer to help build.”
Volunteers will construct the shell of a new home — including flooring, walls, roofing and siding — courtesy of donated materials. Once completed on campus, Pickens County Habitat for Humanity will transport the home to its final destination in the local community for final construction. The Habitat house will be on display along with Homecoming floats as alumni and fans return to main campus for Clemson’s football game against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 22.
“This build means a lot, especially to the family whose new home this will be,” Bedenbaugh said. “It’s amazing to get to work with such a great organization, with great people. It’s a really good thing to be involved in.”