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For the fifth consecutive year, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ supported a special "home for the holidays" project with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ 60 students and employees worked Dec. 8 in near perfect weather on a house for Birmingham-area resident Henrietta Morris as part of a special promotion for 10 corporate sponsors to build a house in 10 days as a holiday gift to the homeowner.

¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ is one of two corporate sponsors to participate every year of the special "home for the holidays" project. Birmingham television station ABC 33/40 coordinates the project with local Habitat for Humanity.

Morris, a Birmingham native and community volunteer, visited the work crew and praised ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's involvement in the project.

"I don't know what I would do without these new friends," Morris said. "It just overwhelms me that so many people are willing to help me."

Valerie Macon, a sophomore nursing major from Marietta, Ga., and Philip Poole, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's executive director of communications, represented the university at the groundbreaking ceremonies on Dec. 6. Macon and Melanie Fox, a sophomore from Pelham, Ala., are coordinators for ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ's Habitat affiliate and enlisted student volunteers for the project.

"This has been such a rewarding project because of its uniqueness," Poole said. "Because it falls during final exam time, we always worry just a bit about having enough volunteers. But, every year, the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ family comes through in grand style. This year was no exception."

Campus Dining, Inc., the university's food service vendor, provided lunches for the volunteers.

Dedication ceremonies are set for Dec. 20.