In its 17th year, New Trier’s Habitat for Humanity is nearing the completion of a Waukegan home for the Brown family.

The funds required for the house are provided by community events such as the Tom de Luca show, Feast Week, and Winter Carnival.

These events are organized by project leaders Chloe Jacobs, Sophia Holt, Georgia Caras, Annabel Weyrich, Cole Maizel, and Amelia Lytle.

At this point, the walls and roof are up, and “it’s starting to look like a house now,” Senior Advisor Chair Chris Pearson said, who oversees the project leaders.

He also said that things like painting, insulation, and flooring still need to be completed on the interior of the house before it’s finished.

At the completion of Brown’s house in Waukegan, New Trier will have built 33 houses, both locally and internationally.

This year’s Winter Carnival, which is an essential fundraiser for New Trier’s Habitat for Humanity, raised over $22,000.

Senior Daniel Pickard, who helped run the stock car racing booth, said, “Winter Carnival is a great community event for a great cause. I’ve had been going since I was a little kid, and now I’m helping raise money for Habitat for Humanity. It is a great way to give back to the community.”

On April 10, New Trier Habitat for Humanity will have an online auction that will feature donations from local businesses that community members can bid on, with all funds going toward the charity.

While a lot of funds have been raised to this point, continued funding is essential.

On the Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity website, part of the mission statement says, “There is a staggering need for housing support in the Chicago metro area and an opportunity for Habitat to do even more than it does. CHFH was created to leverage capacity building, growth, marketing and advocacy by working in collaboration with the eight affiliates across Chicagoland.”

For those who went to the construction site, and help with construction, have reported that it was a great experience.

Senior Matt Underwood, of the Silvers Advisory, said, “I had a ton of fun. The contractors working with Habitat were really helpful, and gave us good direction. It felt fulfilling to help such a good cause along with bonding with my fellow advisees. I’m thankful to those that help set up New Trier’s Habitat for the opportunity to help out with a great cause.”