Boston College students finish up help with construction of Habitat for Humanity house

HUNTINGTON -- Twelve Boston College students left Huntington on Friday after spending their spring break building an Artisan Avenue house for the Huntington Area Habitat for Humanity.

Teddy Kluemper, director of Development and Communication for the local Habitat for Humanity, said the students came to the city to participate in the national Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge Program. The alternative spring break program provides opportunities for students to spend a week of their school break building a house at one of the organization's affiliates around the county.

In only five days, the group raised the house's walls, built the floor and began raising trusses for the roof. Kluemper said the students have cut three weeks off of the total construction time.

"The contributions these kids have made to the Huntington Area Habitat for Humanity, the city of Huntington and the Artisan Avenue Redevelopment Project are immeasurable," he said. "As an affiliate, we are privileged to host the students from Boston College and commend them for their services."

The house, located at 1940 Artisan Ave., already has a family waiting to move in and is being built in honor of restaurant owner Rocco Muriale, who over the past five years has raised more than $100,000 to the Huntington Area Habitat for Humanity through his yearly dinner benefit.

This week, students from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania will also spend their spring break in Huntington.