After a week of braving the elements and and panhandling, Shack-a-Thon, Habitat for Humanity’s largest fundraiser of the year, ends today.

According to Lukas Lankford, advocacy officer for Habitat for Humanity, said the organization had raised $12,000 as of Thursday.

“I feel like we’re on track,” Lankford said. “If we don’t make the goal then it’ll probably be close to it.”

As a second-year volunteer at Shack-a-Thon, Lankford said students are being more creative this year.

“People are selling baked goods and raffle tickets. I didn’t see as much of that last year,” Lankford said.

Today Habitat for Humanity will ask shacks to help with a photo petition asking for the passing of legislation that will assist Habitat in its mission for providing decent housing for everyone in the United States.

“One of my jobs for habitat is making up activities to advocate for legislature that will benefit it,” Lankford said. “This would help out the United States and big cities in North Carolina like Raleigh and Charlotte.”

Lankford said the focus of this petition is to get the Shack-a-Thon community involved in a new way.

The University’s goal is to contribute 16 pictures out of the national goal of 1,000.

Lankford said one of the rewarding aspects of Shack-a-Thon is when groups combine to build and live in shacks together.

“It really helps when different campus groups unite to help build one shack,” Lankford said.

Harrison Gray, a junior in biochemistry and a member of Sigma Pi, said Shack-a-Thon was a good cause that brings people together. Sigma Pi shared a shack with Alpha Delta Pi this week. It was Alpha Delta Pi’s first time participating in the event.

“It was great showing that Greek Life cares, giving back to the community and sharing awareness of Habitat for Humanity,” Grey said.

John Gibblings, an alumnus and Sigma Pi member, said theAlpha Delta Pi did a lot to help raise money.

“We could not have done it without Alpha Pi. They baked cookies, sold money and used a puppy to promote donations,” Gibblings said. “They stuck with us through the all the bad weather.”

Grey said the hardest part was staying over night at the shack and not having the option of going back home.

“It’s great being here because you get to see the hardships that every shack goes through, especially in the rain,” Grey said.

The Inter-Residence Council, Student Government and National Residence Honorary Hall shared a shack as well.

Kristine Sloan, a senior in economics and international studies, said those in the shacks used innovative ways to get donations.   

“We have all these different strategies like the wishing well, and out going people in our shack,” Sloan said. “That’s why I think were leading in the fundraiser.”

She also said they had many incentives for receiving donations.

“We had a bake sale, raffling tickets to eat dinner with Student Body President Jim Ceresnak and Student Senate President Kelli Rogers,” Sloan said. “We actually had a lot of people buy raffling tickets.”

Sloan said her favorite part of Shack-a-Thon was getting to talk to people about Habitat and interact with other students on campus.

“It’s something that benefits the community. All the people out here get to know each other throughout the week,” Sloan said. “The Brickyard is the heart of campus.”

Vaishali Rathee, a freshman in biology said she enjoyed being out at the shack and helping out Habitat for Humanity.

“It’s rewarding to be part of such a great organization and help build homes across the nation by fundraising,” Rathee said. ” I just wanted to contribute to this cause by volunteering for the day.”

Rathee said her shack began selling doorsteps for three dollars to generate donations.

“A honors student designed a doorstep in hopes of raising money,” Rathee said. “We really wanted to contribute to the University’s community by doing this.”

Lankford said donating money to Habitat for Wake County allows them to work closer with Habitat for Humanity in Raleigh and have a close relationship with them.

“All the different club are getting involved for a common goal which is to help raise money for Habitat for Humanity, as well as spreading the word of what habitat is really about.” Lankford said.