PHOTO COURTESY OF Elizabeth Castañeda Kappa Delta Chi members and psychology majors Marissa Marchello, left, and Leslie Moss paint the wall of a new house Saturday morning as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

Covered in paint, sawdust, drywall and many other construction site goodies, the ladies from Kappa Delta Chi spent Saturday working with Habitat for Humanity at a site of 36 new homes not far from the UA campus.

Twenty-eight members of Kappa Delta Chi were on site from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. working on building homes for low-income families in Tucson.

The 1,352-square-foot homes have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and are energy efficient certified by Tucson Electric Power. Because the homes are meant more for low-income families, the construction is funded through private contribution and government funding, Pitman said.

Perspective homeowners must be able to carry a mortgage, although it includes 0 percent interest, Pitman said.

Elizabeth Primero, service officer for Kappa Delta Chi, said the sorority became involved with Habitat for Humanity to help members of the Tucson community, give the group members hands-on experience and to help change the stereotypical image of sorority life.

Primero, a political science sophomore, said this is the group's first semester working with Habitat for Humanity but she would like to see it continue as a spring tradition for the sorority.

In addition to sorority members, a handful of graduate students from the creative writing department and many other volunteers were present to assist with construction efforts.

On average, more than 75 volunteers have been coming to the site each weekend, said Patrick Pitman, project superintendent and UA alumnus.

"The best part about this project is all of the volunteers," Pitman said. "You get to meet and work with wonderful people who really want to make a difference in and for their community."

Reasons for spending a hot Saturday building homes varied, but volunteers seemed to share the same type of community and campus spirit behind the project.

Jeanette Valencia, the publicity co-chair for Kappa Delta Chi, was enthusiastic about being able to spend time with her sorority sisters and at the same time do something to benefit other members of the community.

"It is a great feeling to be able to be out here doing something that we can actually be proud of and others will enjoy," said Valencia, a communication sophomore.

Sara McDaniel, a theatre education sophomore and volunteer, said she wanted to help out even though she wasn't a part of the sorority.

"My scholarship required me to do 20 hours of community service, but then I realized it was so great, I just decided to keep doing it," she said.