Penn State Habitat for Humanity is trying to show that spaghetti dinners and woodwork go hand in hand as members continue to raise funds for their next $40,000 project.

Tri-County Habitat for Humanity will lay the foundation in July for a house in Philipsburg. Penn State Habitat for Humanity will begin building the house in August, said Tom Mesko, Tri-County Habitat for Humanity executive director.

The organization has raised $20,000 through providing spaghetti dinners at State College Presbyterian Church, canning and community service. If it does not raise the targeted $40,000, Tri-County Habitat for Humanity will become a cosponsor, said Lindsay Tucker, Penn State Habitat for Humanity president.

However, Tucker said she remains hopeful that the organization will reach the necessary amount and encourages students and the community to show their support.

"We have 40,000 students here, and if every student could give a dollar, then we could build a house," Tucker added. "That dollar means a lot."

Penn State Habitat for Humanity anticipates a number of student organizations to participate, including Lion Ambassadors, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.

The upcoming project is open to anyone interested in community service, she added.

"We don't have any volunteer requirements," Tucker said. "It's pretty much come as you will."

Penn State Habitat for Humanity completed its first student-sponsored house in April 2003.

Members began building the house in August 2002 and received a grant from Tri-County Habitat for Humanity to fund the project.

The organization, which currently has 2,000 members on its listserv and 40 to 80 students attending its weekly meetings, also builds houses during spring break with different schools on the East Coast in the program, the Collegiate Challenge.

Meredith Levine (freshman-biobehavioral health) said that she helped build a house with 14 Penn State students in Kentucky during spring break this year.

"We were a very diverse group of people," Levine said. "It kind of felt like The Real World."

Levine said she felt she had an impact on the future homeowners, a single mother, a 4-year-old boy and a disabled grandmother. Since the mother also worked on the house, Levine said it was a touching experience.

"You know you want to give them the house because they deserve it," Levine said.