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It started with a class assignment, and some West Virginia University students hope it will result in housing for a needy Monongalia County family. The House that WVU Built, sponsored by the WVU Division of Design and Merchandising and Monongalia County Habitat for Humanity, will host a kick-off to begin fundraising efforts across from the Mountainlair from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 22 from 2 p.m. Please come out and show your support. Refreshments and music will be provided.

“This project came from an assignment in Interior Design 420, Professional Practice, where students were asked to create a complete fundraising campaign for a charitable group,” said Barbara Lingle, an assistant professor of interior design.

Interior design majors Caitlin Carrigan and Heather Preston came up with “The House That WVU Built,” an effort to raise $60,000 for Mon County Habitat’s fortieth home in the area. The students then presented their campaign to Jodi Brock, a board member for Habitat, and, according to Lingle, “we are going full speed ahead.”

“We’d like to get as many students, and student organizations involved as volunteers as possible in the process of raising the money, and then the actual building of the home,” Carrigan said. “The home will be located in Morgantown, and it will be Mon County Habitat’s 40th house, so this is going to be a landmark event for several reasons.

“We need the support of the student body and faculty in order to make this happen,” Carrigan added. “This week we are focusing on gathering volunteers to work fundraising booths that will go up around both WVU campuses. The goal of the booths is to start collecting money for the house, and to continue to raise awareness.”

Preston graduated in December, but she’s returning to help push the project forward.

The kick-off event will feature live music and free refreshments. For more information, contact Carrigan at ccarrriga@mix.wvu.edu or Preston at hpreston87@gmail.com.