University of Tennessee Greek communities have teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and have participated in the building of two houses in Knoxville area.

This week, the Greek communities on campus have spear-headed the ‘blitz building’ of the two houses in the Lonsdale community. The Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic and National Pan-Hellenic Council have been fundraising for the past year and have raised around $25,000 in order to build these houses.

The students are putting many hours of hands-on time at the job site framing walls, hanging rafters, and nailing shingles. Amazingly, the houses have been built in only one week and will have a grand opening this Saturday at 11a.m.

Besides building the houses, the students are involved in Greek Week activities. The activities included an All-Greek picnic at Fiji Island, a rock painting competition, Greek Jeopardy and a American Idol styled ‘Greek Idol’ competition at the Humanities Amphitheater.

A point system kept track of the winning teams and at the end of the week, the overall winner will receive the coveted ‘Greek Cup’. Other prizes have been given out to the first Greeks to arrive at each event. On Saturday, a iPod and 10 gift cards will be raffled off.

Habitat for Humanity is revitalizing the Lonsdale community by building five other houses on Divide street all this week. The families who will live in the houses must participate in the construction process. They must also pay for the construction which usually costs $70,000 to 75,000 with a 25-year, no interest loan. That money helps fund the building of other Habitat homes.

With the help of Habitat, these families will have new houses to live in and UT students will have lasting memories of working toward a greater community.