By Annie Steinfelt ‘24, staff writer

Students and staff at LVC will aid the local Habitat for Humanity in rebuilding homes that were destroyed by a fire in Lebanon.

Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity has asked students and staff to volunteer to help finish the construction and painting of three row homes that were destroyed in a fire in 2017.

“We are excited to be able to offer greater support to the organization this semester,” Jen Liedtka, service and volunteerism coordinator, said. “With President MacLaren’s support, staff are now joining students in this endeavor. We currently have 10 dates reserved for the LVC community to serve.”

These dates span from Oct. 2 through Nov. 20, and students and employees are encouraged to sign up to volunteer on Redbook a few days in advance in order to receive a safety video and the appropriate forms prior to their service date.

Volunteers will be assigned various tasks depending on their day of service, such as final repairs and painting, but no prior experience is necessary.

“Habitat staff do such a great job of not only teaching the skills needed to complete the tasks at hand, but also educating volunteers about the realities of housing access in our community,” Liedtka said. “Learning happens in so many different ways when we serve with Habitat, and volunteers typically leave the work site with a broadened view of our community and of themselves.”

LVC has helped Habitat for Humanity once a month in past years, and Habitat has been serving the community by repairing homes and offering programs and services to the community since 1986. The organization hopes to provide individuals, families and new homeowners with affordable and stable housing so that they may focus on other needs.

For questions about this service opportunity, email Jen Liedtka at liedtka@lvc.edu. Visit portal.lvc.edu/mylvc/redbookevents.aspx to sign up!