When flooding hit Hamburg, a small community in southwestern Iowa along the Missouri River, this spring, students watched as the town's school was transformed into a shelter and food pantry.

People from affected communities around Fremont County and into Missouri came to the K-8 building to acquire necessities like clothing and food.

Witnessing all of this firsthand, the school's seventh-graders resolved to aid their community by building houses for those who were now in need of them.

"Our kids saw that and they just wanted to give back," Hamburg Community School District Superintendent Mike Wall said. "What can a kid do in this situation? What kid can build a house? We do a lot of building in our farm school; they build large chicken coops. They understand building and that was something they could do with adult help.

"They also wanted to make a big impact on a family, not just cleaning up trash. They want to really make a difference."

The plan, formulated and led by middle school students, is now in motion. A plot of land across from the school has been donated. A committee of adults and students is considering applications for the first home and will eventually vote to determine a winner.

An advertisement was placed in the local paper and the committee has received 10 applications. The application period runs through the end of July.

Applicants will only be considered if they lost their home due to flooding. Applicants with lower income, fewer resources and children that would enter the Hamburg Community School District will receive greater consideration than those with more resources or no children.

Individuals have donated time and expertise to put in flooring and install electricity in the home. People have donated the cost of individual pieces of wood and windows. More donations are being sought, specifically for someone willing to donate time and expertise for concrete work.

The students don't plan to stop at one home.

These homes won't be free to flood victims, but rather affordable opportunities meant to help bankroll the construction of other homes students plan to build. A 1,300-square-foot home will be valued between $140,000 and $160,000.

Each home will be offered to the chosen flood victim with a $60,000 no-interest loan that can be repaid in a time frame that works for them. The buyer must agree to live there for a minimum of five years.

Walls predicts that all 160 students in the school will have a role in building the house. Younger kids will be able to help with painting while older students can plant grass and landscape. The majority of the construction will be handled by a core group of 25 students.

The process of acquiring the land is reaching its conclusion now. Wall predicts initial work on the foundation will begin in August.

The committee is still accepting donations, which can be sent to the following address:

Hamburg Community Schools

Dr. Mike Wall

309 South St.

Hamburg, IA 51640

Aaron Calvin covers trending news for the Register. Reach him at acalvin@registermedia.com or 515-556-9097.

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