It's hard to believe that two weeks ago, volunteers from across the country—including former Miss America titleholders—demolished a house in record time for Habitat for Humanity!

Our seventh Day of Service dedicated to our bright, talented, dynamic Miss America contestants was a success. And our Miss America volunteers set a record: in just three hours, we provided help to a needy family. A job such as this would normally take a month to complete!

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for volunteering for the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity. The contribution of your time and talents helped a family to break the cycle of poverty and build long-term financial security. Habitat’s affordable, nonprofit house payments free up money for food, child care, medicine, and other necessities that help stabilize families. Research has shown that decent housing improves health, increases children’s educational achievement, and strengthens community ties.

And isn't that we want for all Americans? A chance for a better life and opportunity.

A special thanks to Bobbi Hardy and her Las Vegas Habitat Team for hosting the transportation and a delicious lunch we all enjoyed! Volunteers, or "Habitat Angels," who added "sparkle" to our  team included Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 1948 BeBe Shopp, Miss America 1955 Lee Meriwether, Miss America 1977 Dorothy Benham, and Miss America 1978 Susan Perkins. 

Thanks also go to:  

Thomas Whitfield for his support and signage, which he provides us each year. Tom's sign and your signatures grace the hall in a shadow box, in the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity office. 

Lisa Perez Miller (Kansas) and Stanley Boyes (Connecticut) for the photos and videos taken for our upcoming video. I will post the video in next few weeks. If you would like to contribute your thoughts, highlights, and feelings about the Day of Service for an upcoming piece for fourpoints magazine, please e-mail me. I would love your input for the article.

I hope to see you for our eighth Day of Service, in 2014. 

Written by: Valerie Clemens