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BLACKSBURG - As a kickoff to this year’s Hokies in the Community initiative, members of the Virginia Tech athletics department recently spent a day working with Habitat for Humanity, helping repair a house in the Hurt Park neighborhood in Roanoke. The house was gutted, and then rebuilt, for a family who will move into the house in about six months.

“We encourage our student athletes to volunteer and give back to the local community, to grow personally and to have an impact beyond themselves and beyond Virginia Tech,” director of athletics Whit Babcock said. “So, it’s only right that we as a staff do as we say and help out as well. The service aspect is part of our fabric at Virginia Tech. We respect and strive to embody what Ut Prosim stands for. The New River Valley is our home, and we’re trying to do our part to serve and to help make a difference.”

Under the supervision of Brian Clark, construction director for Habitat for Humanity, the staff tore down walls, power-washed wood, put up new wall frames, cut beams and did a variety of other tasks to try and help the project along.

With the help of others, Habitat for Humanity has helped over 30 families in the Roanoke area with new or renovated homes. Clark said Habitat for Humanity has more than 150,000 hours of volunteer work, and that doesn’t include the work of other groups who chip in.

During the 2014-15 academic year, Virginia Tech student-athletes impacted more than 10,000 individuals through community involvement and 100 percent of the 22 Hokie teams participated in community outreach initiatives.

To get involved with the Roanoke Habitat for Humanity, visit http://habitat-roanoke.org/

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