Eastern’s Habitat for Humanity chapter is hosting a dinner for all of those that volunteered their help to the “House that EIU Built” at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Newman Catholic Center.

Any student or organization that helped raise money for the house or who helped build the house is invited to attend, said Sarah Weglowski, dinner organizer and Habitat for Humanity chapter member.

“It’s a free thank-you dinner for all the people who contributed to the ‘House that EIU Built,'” Weglowski said. “The chapter set a goal five years ago to build a house in Coles County for Habitat for Humanity through fund raising and promotion.”

The “House that EIU Built” is in Mattoon and will be donated to a family in need of more adequate shelter upon its completion.

Weglowski said Eastern’s Habitat for Humanity chapter has a general membership of about 40 members, but received a lot of help on the house project.

Over 100 students and 25 campus organizations volunteered, including the wrestling team and the Wesley Foundation, she said.

The dinner coincides with HABIFEST 2002, a day of celebration for Habitat for Humanity chapters at over 100 universities and across the nation.

The day was designed to highlight the need for affordable housing and to encourage students further to volunteer to eliminate sub-standard housing.

“We are excited that our young people want to get involved in helping families in their communities who are less fortunate,” said Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International, in a press release.

Anyone interested in attending the dinner at the Newman Catholic Center or learning more about the campus Habitat for Humanity chapter can contact Holly Walters at 348-0188.