Hammering With Hope

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Habitat For Humanity of Lafayette has been around for 11 years. On Monday, October 5, the organization raised the walls on its 198th home with the help of Purdue Head Football Coach Danny Hope.

The wall raised at 2601 Poland Hill Road was much more than just another Habitat For Humanity project, it signified Purdue University's commitment to the community. The three building sites will soon become home for three area families.

The project is part of "Hammering With Hope," a joint effort with Habitat and Purdue Head Football Coach Danny Hope.

"Seeing those families and you see the homes that are being built for them, the opportunity to have pride in owning a home, it just puts everything in life in perspective in a lot of ways," said Hope. "So it's really just an honor to be out here."

Coach Hope is a big believer in giving back. Service in the community is a concept he first witnessed under former head man Joe Tiller.

"We've always talked about the importance of getting outside of yourself and doing something for the community in which you live," said Tiller.

Life for the Boiler football team has been tough on the field this season, but like the houses at this location, Coach Hope feels as though he's building a foundation for the future.

"We have a great group of guys," said Hope. "We have academic goals for our football team, to carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and to take some pride in that. And to come out here and be apart of these types of services, I think is the building blocks of young men that we can win a championship with."

A goal the coach and the Purdue faithful hope is one day realized. Work on the three homes will continue through 2009. The three families will be able to move into their houses by early 2010.

To learn more about Habitat For Humanity click here.