Wilton’s ‘Habitat for Humanity’ Youth Chapter is On Fire!

With three meetings under their belt, the newly formed Wilton chapter of Youth United, part of Habitat for Humanity, is up and running and offering an open invitation for more young volunteers.

The group’s January meeting will take place on Sunday, Jan. 12 from 3-5 p.m. at their regular Wilton location at WEPCO/St. Mathew’s (36 New Canaan Rd.). This month’s activity will be making Jacob’s Ladder toys and Rainbow Loom bracelets, with all materials provided. Completed pieces will then be sold at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Bridgeport, as well as locally.

The group, organized for kids from kindergarten through high school, was started this past fall by Wilton resident Margie Holcombe who, along with her husband Stu and their two children, have been actively involved with Habitat for Humanity for years. Now that their children are grown, Holcombe says they wanted to find another way to give more young people the chance to experience the rewards of giving back to others.

“By sub-dividing into three groups within our team – elementary, middle, and high school students – we can design activities for all levels, letting everyone participate,” she says.

While actual home site building work is limited to Youth United members aged 16 and up, many group activities include all ages. At the chapter’s December meeting, kids of all ages gathered at WEPCO/St. Mathew’s to make and decorate gingerbread houses, braving a pretty significant snowstorm to do so. With holiday music playing in the background and snacks for everyone (including those not-so-subtly snatched from the decorations supply), the atmosphere was festive and fun. The youngest participants had help from parents who chose to stay, while high schoolers found a relaxing way to be creative during a stress free afternoon.

Once completed, the gingerbread houses were put on display at the Wilton YMCA for a week, then sold both at the YMCA and at the downtown Starbucks to benefit Youth United. In all, almost $300 was raised, which was supplemented by a $500 donation from St. Mathew’s; the total was then matched by a grant from the State Farm Challenge, making for a highly successful first fundraiser.

In addition to supporting Habitat for Humanity, Youth United offers kids a chance to truly help in a tangible way. Holcombe says the results are already becoming apparent.

“After our first meeting in the fall, we attended a house turnover in Bridgeport, a ceremony where a recipient was receiving the keys to her new house. We were running late getting the kids back to Wilton, and I mentioned to one teen that we didn’t have to stay for the whole event,” she says. “He didn’t hesitate telling me, ‘No. I really want to stay and see this.’ He was so in tuned with what was happening.”

The Wilton Youth United members will be headed back to Bridgeport in February to make bookcases which will be included in every Fairfield County Habitat for Humanity home. The bookcases are then stocked with donated books for the Habitat families.

Any Wilton businesses who would like to participate are asked to email Margie at margie.holcombe@gmail.com. Any kids, or parents, interested in learning more about the group are invited to email Margie directly as well.