Students from across the country are in Lynchburg, working through their spring break and making new friends in the Hill City's disabled community.
They're taking part in Habitat for Humanity's "Collegiate Challenge."
60 high school and college students from Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky are getting dirty to build a house on Polk Street for the Henry family.
"I've been given so much by my parents and everyone around me," says Emily Yeterian, a senior at Kent School in Connecticut. "I always feel like it's necessary to give some of everything I have back."
Collegiate Challenge has been going on in Lynchburg for a long time, but this year's project is a little different.
Students are getting help from clients of DePaul Community Resources.
"It's really important for them to be able to demonstrate to others their ability to contribute," says Mary Janick-Smith, an employee of DePaul Community Resources who coordiantes the day support program that's providing workers for the Habitat project.
Students say they're learning a lot from their new Lynchburg friends.
"I'm happy to be able to make them happy," says Eric Cavender, a student at Western Kentucky University who spent part of his day working with a DePaul client. "It's great to spend some time with them, talk with them, and make them feel like they're wanted out here to help."
Congressman Bob Goodlatte was among many volunteers who stopped by Monday to help with construction on the Habitat house.
Collegiate Challenge runs through next Friday, but the house won't be finished until June.
