Constant rain has not dampened the first half of Shack-a-Thon, the annual fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, with the students who staff the 26 shacks working diligently toward their $65,000 goal.

The event’s proceeds go to building affordable houses for people who need them in Wake County. Previous Shack-a-Thon donations have gone toward building one house a year, but this year, NC State’s Habitat for Humanity club has started Build-a-Block, an initiative to raise enough money to build eleven townhomes on Lake Wheeler Road.

“It’s the largest project between Habitat and a school ever done,” said Tripp Pearce, a senior studying environmental engineering and president of NC State’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Along with fundraising, some of the guidelines for this year’s Shack-a-Thon include that the shack must be 12 feet by 12 feet by 10 feet, must remain in the brickyard for one week and must be staffed 24/7 with at least two people at night and one person during the day. In case of rain each shack is required to have a tarp.

“We’re here to spread awareness for affordable housing,” said Parker Colbath, a junior studying chemical engineering and the director of this year’s Shack-a-Thon. “It’s really fun, but you kind of can get the realization that, ‘Wow, I wouldn’t want to live in a shack for more than a week.’”

Shack-a-Thon organizers work closely with ReStore, a store which sells and recycles building supplies and is a part of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. Along with raising awareness for affordable housing, Colbath emphasized this year’s focus on sustainability.

“So it’s like another donation to Habitat,” Colbath said.

Most materials used are from ReStore, and will be donated back to ReStore along with any added materials used in the making of the shacks after the event.

The Good Club, self-described as a group dedicated to spreading health, happiness and unity, was running a succulent sale, based on their wildly successful sale earlier this year.

“There’s a great sense of unity,” said Phian Tran, a senior studying agriculture business management and the president of the Good Club.

The Impact Leadership Village and Engineering Village teamed up to build a shack and their main means of fundraising is an interactive game called Escape the Shack.

The Caldwell Fellows raised money by hosting a bake sale, which went through Tuesday and hosted a tug-of-war game Tuesday night.

Many of the student organizers are eager to come back every year to participate in the fundraiser.

“It’s a yearly tradition for us,” said Akshatha Kiran, a senior studying biochemistry who is helping out with the Caldwell Fellows shack.

Shack-a-Thon newcomers Luke Huffines, a junior studying forest management and Taylor Mebane, a senior studying environmental technology and management, are happy to staff their College of Natural Resources windmill shack, even in the rain.

“It’s been fun so far I have pretty much talked to everybody around, it’s kind of like a big family,” Huffines said. “Everybody knows each other and is friendly and is trying to raise money.”

Mebane and Huffines are selling “I heart CNR” and “Go Pack” buttons along with Cup-a-Joe gift certificates to raise money.

“Living in these shacks for a week gives students a perspective on what it’s like to not have dependable housing and gives them a sense of community,” Colbath said. “It’s almost like we’re living out the habitat code today, because, you know, we’re building for each other, we’re working together. It’s like one community.”