Today, after much behind the scenes work by Dr. Bruce Martin, Associate Dean, Students I am pleased to announce we have secured a build date and will spend the next few weeks recruiting volunteers and preparing for the build, and the next three months or so raising funds to meet our financial obligations.

Our Faculty of Medicine Habitat for Humanity Build will occur June 10-14 and June 17-21, 2013 from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. in Parking Lot E on Bannatyne Campus. The build will take place adjacent to the Dentistry building; holders of Parking Lot E permits will still be able to park in E Lot (McDermot Ave @Tecumseh St.)

Building the home on Bannatyne Campus and relocating it to a permanent site will not only bring visibility to our project, but enable more participation by learners, noted Dr. Martin who is co-chairing the Habitat build with Dr. Gerry Minuk, Professor/ Section Head, Hepatology, Internal Medicine.

Since first announcing this idea of becoming Canada’s first Faculty of Medicine to sponsor a Habitat build, we have been inundated with expressions of support by faculty, students, staff and partners. Now the stage is set for everyone to sign up for a shift or two and get to work!

It’s also time for all of us to ante up. Our fundraising goal is $150,000! I am confident that with the financial support of faculty members, staff, students, Residents and all Faculty of Medicine Departments, we will meet our goal. To date, I have had commitments from a handful of departments; but to be successful, we need all of our departments to allocate a small portion of their tithes to this worthy cause. Show your support here.

Volunteers do not require construction experience. Habitat for Humanity staff will run volunteers through a safety orientation and training session each day for each 10-20 member team and provide tools.

University of Manitoba students, faculty and staff volunteers will be expected to commit a full day during the 10-day construction phase (and staff can do so on work time with their manager’s permission). Habitat for Humanity will provide training, supervision, safety gear and tools to the 10- 20 adult volunteers required on site each day.

Habitat for Humanity resonates with so many because it is a concrete means to “giving a hand up” to Winnipeggers who could not otherwise afford a home. It is building hope and giving opportunities for a better life to families in our community.

Support our Faculty of Medicine Habitat for Humanity Build and find out how you can volunteer.

Why will you volunteer/support our Faculty of Medicine Habitat for Humanity build?