If you're on the University of Maine Campus from now until Thursday morning, you'll notice something a bit odd looking between the library and student union.

A dozen members of the school's division of Habitat for Humanity are camping out in a plywood and blue tarp shanty...

" Last year was the first year we did it and I wasn't able to stay out last year but this year, I think Wednesday Night is my shift to sleep out but whenever we have availability we all come out here and just hang out by the fire and just ask for donations," said Meghan McCarthy, Co-President of Habitat UMaine which is a campus division of Habitat for Humanity. For this dozen students staying outside on campus it's a way to prove a point.

"Maine is cold and people don't really have, if they don't have the money to afford oil for heat or can't winterize their home or they have really old windows I mean it gets cold really quickly," said Amanda Missud, Co-President of the organization. "This is an extreme example of substandard housing of basically not having insulation and being cold at night, night having heat."

As some students made their way across the mall on campus going to their next class, these students are hoping some of them stop by and ask questions, said McCarthy.

"We don't really have to stop the people because it's strange for this to be in the middle of campus so people come right up to us and they ask us what's going on," she continued. "They give out change for the most part and there's twelve thousand kids on this campus so it adds up quickly."

Last year the group raised $250.They thought of going off campus this year to collect more money, but according to McCarthy thought being near the students would better serve the groups interests.

"we decided to do it on campus big high traffic area and we don't really take the time to stop and give them the whole low down we basically try to catch em by what they see and obviously it's a bad situation for all of us throughout this week but families live with this every day."

They will remain camped out on campus between the Student Union and Fogler Library until Thursday Morning the 14th of February. If you'd like to make a donation you can contact Re-Store in Orrington, which is part of Habitat for Humanity at 992-0704.

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