As Habitat for Humanity of Wake County celebrates 40 years of building homes, communities and hope, one long-standing partnership stands out: the Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter at NC State University. From its beginnings, the chapter has been a strong force in engaging students by spreading awareness and facilitating connections to Habitat’s mission through transformative projects.
A Vision Takes Root
In 1991, NC State Student Clare Jordan received a phone call to her dorm room from Habitat for Humanity International, asking if she would be interested in starting a campus chapter at NC State.
“I was the only student at first,” Clare said. She placed an ad in The Technician, NC State’s campus newspaper, and enlisted the support of her sorority sisters. Together, they formed a leadership team that would lay the foundation for a lasting movement at NC State.
The chapter quickly got to work, partnering with Habitat Wake to engage students in homebuilding efforts. By the end of their first year, they had finished a home in downtown Raleigh.
“I always craved something bigger than myself to make an impact,” Clare said. “This was the way I was fortunate enough to give back to the community and engage other people through the mission of an organization my family had supported for a long time.”
Continued Engagement and Growth
The NC State Habitat Chapter has since flourished, with each generation of students carrying forward its mission in different ways.
Back in 2016, at the same time as NC State’s Think and Do the Extraordinary campaign, the campus chapter raised $715,000 with the university through Build-A-Block to build 11 townhomes off Lake Wheeler Road in partnership with Habitat Wake.
More than 5,000 supporters joined Habitat Wake and the campus chapter to contribute to more than 20,000 work hours for the property, including alumni, donors, athletic teams and dozens of other student clubs and organizations.
“The fact that we are alumni of a university that cared enough to raise significant dollars for Habitat during a time when it was raising billions for itself—that was incredible,” Clare said.
Tradition of Giving through Shack-A-Thon
The campus chapter hosts Shack-A-Thon each spring, and Wolf Plaza buzzes with energy as dozens of student organizations take over for a week in building on campus.
Starting with basic materials, and in many cases no construction experience, students begin to build from the ground up alongside Habitat’s construction team.
Throughout the week, students camp out and sell goods to raise funds for Habitat Wake. From plants to mystery books, baked goods and used skis, each group has something fun and unique to offer.
The event engages the campus in Habitat Wake’s mission by allowing students to learn more and spend a week fundraising to support them. Throughout the years, the event has raised more than $565,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Wake and Johnston counties.
For most students, the best part of being involved with the chapter is having the opportunity to form closer relationships with other students while working to make a difference in their community.
Shack-A-Thon 2025 will kick off this Sunday, March 23, and will run through Saturday, March 28. We invite you to participate and support the campus chapter through donating, visiting the event in person, following along on social media or simply spreading the word!
*Parking is free after 5pm on NC State’s campus at the Dan Allen and Coliseum Decks, which are both short walks to Wolf Plaza.
Beyond Habitat Wake
For Clare Jordan, as well as many other former students and chapter members, Habitat was more than a student activity. Her passion for service led her to a lifelong career in the nonprofit sector. Today, she serves as the vice president of Capital Development Services, a nonprofit consulting firm headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC.
“This generation is seeking ways to do good in the world, in their careers and in their lives,” Clare said, “To 'think and do good,' as we say at NC State. If you want to think and do it for good, Habitat offers a solid, reliable and trustworthy way to engage with your neighbors who need you.”
As Habitat Wake celebrates four decades of impact, the partnership with NC State’s Habitat Chapter shows what can be accomplished when passion, education and service come together.
