The blade of the power saw strikes powerfully against the piece of wood. Saw dust fills the air like snow and the screeching noise grinds to a halt as the unneeded piece hits the ground. In her hands, senior Malia Faitala now possesses a perfectly cut piece of wood that will frame the window of a new home in Georgetown.

Four students and one teacher volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Saturday, Feb. 11. This is the second house Habitat for Humanity club members have worked on this year. In October, 15 students helped build a house in Round Rock.

“The build was awesome, we got to help out a family in need,” junior Trevor Riek said. “We can help out those people don’t have any other way to support themselves.”

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, international group that builds houses for low-income families. The school’s club has been working in conjunction with the Williamson County chapter. Teachers Nikki Allen and Daniel High agreed to co-sponsor the club this year.

“I’ve always thought it was a good organization, and I’ve been interested in being an active member since college, but never had the time,” Allen said. “I was really excited to help when Malia proposed the idea of starting the club.”

Faitala, the club’s president, started the club last school year because she felt it was an important cause students should be involved in.

“It took a lot of work and commitment, especially for her [Nikki Allen] because she’s a teacher and has so much going on,” Faitala said. “When we had the first meeting, we had at least 20 people there. I was so proud. This year, it was double. I know schedules are always difficult, but I know people try to come out as much as they can.”

Students went through safety training before the build, and wore hard hats, gloves and protective glasses while working on the site. Students cut wood, framed windows and laid the board panels on the rafters, nailing the boards for the three bedroom, two bathroom home for a single mother and her 11-year old son.

“During a build, I’m sure to keep my head, eyes, and hands covered to avoid any injury,” O’Malley said. “The last thing Habitat would want is for a volunteer to injure ourselves during the build.”

Any Habitat for Humanity club member can contribute to the production of the house. Students must be 16 or older to build and 18 to use power equipment and work above the ground. Students younger than 16 can still volunteer, by helping with painting.

“It’s a good feeling to help out others less fortunate than you,” senior Neil O’Malley said. “Because of this, it becomes not only a physically rewarding experience, but a morally enriching experience.”