Marion Teachers Association builds community
07/11/2016

Members of the Marion Teachers Association (MTA) are volunteering this summer with Habitat for Humanity to complete a project in their community. Third grade teacher and first vice president of MTA, Joshua Halliwell, shared the details of the project.

“We were discussing ways to reach out to the community, and how to get the MTA name out there and be able to recruit more members,” explained Halliwell. “We are not just a group negotiating contracts, but rather helping to improve our community for our students, staff and families.”

An opportunity arose to partner with the Marion Regional Career Center (MRCC). The MRCC construction trades teacher and students have worked with Habitat for Humanity for four years. The class project this year was incomplete at the end of the school year. MTA jumped in to help wrap-up the project.

The Habitat house is adjacent to Frances Slocum Elementary School and Marion High School, which met the criteria to benefit the community MTA serves. MTA has hosted two volunteer shifts this summer. They have completed a laundry list of projects on the house including installing siding and soffit, building a shed, patching nail holes and laying stone. 

MTA has had 10 to 15 members participate during each of the two volunteer shifts, and ISTA-Retired pitched in on the first volunteer shift. 

“Doing this project instills a sense of community pride in our members and non-members,” said Halliwell. “We have brought a sense of awareness to the need of our community and have connected other businesses and organizations with Habitat for Humanity for funding.”

Interested in helping? MTA has scheduled another volunteer shift on July 21 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. All Marion Community Schools employees and community members and organizations are welcome to join.