Jacqueline DePorre is a junior at Florida State majoring in Exercise Science. In between her studies, she has a huge passion for volunteer work. One organization that is close to her heart is Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that believes every person should have access to safe and affordable housing. The four pillars they focus on are building, fundraising, advocacy and education.
They work in every state and in over 70 countries worldwide. The Florida State chapter raises money in the fall, which totals to about $40,000, and builds a house in the spring for a local Tallahassee family in need. Some fundraising events they host include restaurant nights, 5K runs, and having members work at baseball, basketball, and football concessions where Habitat receives proceeds earned. Members also do home repairs, throughout the community.
Jacqueline loves how Habitat for Humanity “is a great place to meet new people who have similar goals in life to make a difference and help others! There’s no better feeling than giving the homeowner their set of keys to their new, safe home. The homeowners work hard for it too, putting ‘sweat equity’ hours to build their own homes as well as others.” For spring break, while a lot of college students are on vacation, the H4H students enjoy taking trips to help other organizations complete their homes. These students love the hard work and the results that happen because of it! They do everything from roofing to painting, landscaping, and framing the houses. The students stay in churches and shower in YMCAs, and Jacqueline says “it really takes friendships to the next level”. She has met some of her best friends through Habitat and is thankful for everything she has been a part of.
Jacqueline is the advocacy chair for the FSU chapter where she works with local senators and governors as well as the United Nations to get bills and agendas passed that offer more safe and affordable housing to all people.
Another way Jacqueline has volunteered is through her recent trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She went through her parish and worked in the small village of El Mamey. Throughout the course of a year, various construction, medical, women seduction, and water treatment visits have been made. Her parish has built a large structure, which includes a preschool, a church, three medical exam rooms, a water treatment facility, and a schoolroom. This building can protect the villagers from bad weather and also acts as a gathering place for social events.
Jacqueline went on a medical trip where she saw hundreds of patients over the course of four days. She helped deliver free medicine, vitamins, parasite pills, and dental products. “The people were so grateful for the smallest things,” she says, “the children danced when they got a toothbrush of their own. It was such a humbling and gratifying experience. I worked with a pediatrician, OBGYN, cardiac specialist and dermatologist. We were able to help so many people with such simple treatments. It was amazing.”