A second local family will benefit from App Builds a Home collaboration

View larger image — Appalachian State employee Sheila Potter, pictured with her grandson, is the partner family for the App Builds a Home 2020–21 project, built in partnership with Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. Photo submitted

“It means the world to me to build on my own land. I can still be close to my mom, but the privacy and independence of having my own home is such a blessing.”

Sheila Potter, App State employee and the partner family for the ABAH project

Support App Builds a Home

Set a fundraising goal as an individual, office, club, or organization or make a one-time donation or a monthly donation directly to App Builds a Home.

All donations made before Dec. 31 will be matched up to $5,000.

Learn more

By Jan Todd

Posted Nov. 24, 2020 at 2:15 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The foundation and fundraising are underway for Appalachian State University’s second App Builds a Home (ABAH) project — a campuswide initiative in partnership with Watauga County Habitat for Humanity to build homes for local families.

The first ABAH home was completed in May, with fundraising already underway for the second home — to be built for the family of Sheila Potter, an App State staff member in the university’s Facility Operations.

“It means the world to me to build on my own land. I can still be close to my mom, but the privacy and independence of having my own home is such a blessing.”

Sheila Potter, App State employee and the partner family for the ABAH project

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Potter home was held Oct. 1. Because of the pandemic, ABAH has suspended volunteer activity on-site, and the foundation and framing work will be completed by paid contractors.

Depending on the state of the pandemic, ABAH plans to partner with App State Staff Senate to recruit volunteers for a “sprint to the finish” build competition in spring 2021.

Mackenzie Millett, one of two student co-directors for the ABAH team, said she is excited about the opportunity to build the home for one of App State’s own.

“Service work and connecting with people have always been a big part of my life and being able to bring those two things together in such an impactful way has been life-changing,” said Millett, an Honors College junior from Amelia Island, Florida, who is majoring in exercise science with a minor in general business.

“We all know the importance of home. Things may be a little harder to accomplish now, during the pandemic, but what we are doing — building safe and affordable homes — is more important than ever,” Millett said.

“We all know the importance of home. Things may be a little harder to accomplish now, during the pandemic, but what we are doing — building safe and affordable homes — is more important than ever.”

App State’s Mackenzie Millett, an Honors College junior and exercise major who is student co-director of App Builds a Home

Millett will speak about ABAH during Watauga Habitat’s virtual “Blueprints and Bow Ties” event Dec. 1, which will include an auction featuring items donated by the Appalachian Community that will contribute toward the fundraising goal.

Other fundraising activities for the Potter home include the following:

A fundraising campaign by App State’s Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, held as part of Watauga Habitat’s annual Big Kahuna event, which took place virtually in June. The team completed its fundraising prior to spring break, raising almost $5,000.
A “Give Thanks, Give Back” letter writing campaign held this month by App State’s Honors College and several student groups, including the Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL) Program; Appalachian Wesley Foundation and Presbyterian Episcopal Campus Ministry, part of Campus Ministries; and Kappa Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha sororities.
A virtual benefit concert presented by the App State Glee Club and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity that was livestreamed Nov. 19.
A donation match campaign through Dec. 31, in which a Watauga Habitat donor will match contributions to ABAH up to a maximum of $5,000.

To date, almost $17,000 has been raised toward the total ABAH goal of $40,000 for the second home project. Watauga Habitat will cover the remaining cost of the home.

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Support App Builds a Home

Set a fundraising goal as an individual, office, club, or organization or make a one-time donation or a monthly donation directly to App Builds a Home.

All donations made before Dec. 31 will be matched up to $5,000.

Learn more

Progress and plans for 2nd ABAH project — the Potter home

Fundraising began in spring 2020.
ABAH planning team includes 25 Appalachian Community members.
ABAH fundraising goal is $40,000 toward cost of the home (remainder to be funded by Watauga Habitat for Humanity).
Fundraising total to date — $16,992.
Groundbreaking took place Oct. 1.

Highlights from the 1st ABAH project — the Barker home

Fundraising began in fall 2018.
Groundbreaking took place in September 2019.
Home was completed and dedicated in May.
ABAH raised $95,000 toward the cost of the home (remainder funded by Watauga Habitat for Humanity).
App State students contributed 700-plus volunteer hours during the home’s construction.
ABAH planning team included eight Appalachian Community members.

Welcome home — first App Builds a Home project is dedicated

May 29, 2020

A virtual dedication ceremony is scheduled for the inaugural App Builds a Home project, built in partnership with Watauga County Habitat for Humanity, and fundraising begins for the next home.

Read the story

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“It means the world to me to build on my own land. I can still be close to my mom, but the privacy and independence of having my own home is such a blessing.”

Sheila Potter, App State employee and the partner family for the ABAH project

Support App Builds a Home

Set a fundraising goal as an individual, office, club, or organization or make a one-time donation or a monthly donation directly to App Builds a Home.

All donations made before Dec. 31 will be matched up to $5,000.

Learn more

“We all know the importance of home. Things may be a little harder to accomplish now, during the pandemic, but what we are doing — building safe and affordable homes — is more important than ever.”

App State’s Mackenzie Millett, an Honors College junior and exercise major who is student co-director of App Builds a Home

Progress and plans for 2nd ABAH project — the Potter home

Fundraising began in spring 2020.
ABAH planning team includes 25 Appalachian Community members.
ABAH fundraising goal is $40,000 toward cost of the home (remainder to be funded by Watauga Habitat for Humanity).
Fundraising total to date — $16,992.
Groundbreaking took place Oct. 1.

Highlights from the 1st ABAH project — the Barker home

Fundraising began in fall 2018.
Groundbreaking took place in September 2019.
Home was completed and dedicated in May.
ABAH raised $95,000 toward the cost of the home (remainder funded by Watauga Habitat for Humanity).
App State students contributed 700-plus volunteer hours during the home’s construction.
ABAH planning team included eight Appalachian Community members.

Welcome home — first App Builds a Home project is dedicated

May 29, 2020

A virtual dedication ceremony is scheduled for the inaugural App Builds a Home project, built in partnership with Watauga County Habitat for Humanity, and fundraising begins for the next home.

Read the story