Women Build - September 2011

Saturday, September 17th, was a working day for the Junior League of Lancaster. Active Members Samantha Besnoff, Christine Kmieczak, Becky Bartos, Julie Gotwald, and Heather Shelton were volunteering at the JLL Women Build Project on Fairview Avenue (Lancaster, PA). Honorary Chair, Anne Shannon, was also on site to both as a volunteer and news anchor! Anne interviewed Kate Zimmerman (Habitat for Humanity Representative) and Stacey Wilson (Junior League of Lancaster President) about the Women Build project. The Junior League of Lancaster (JLL) is partnering with Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity to build one home with the goal of raising funds for a second home as part of the Fairview Build, a 19-townehome build. Our collective efforts will make a difference for hard-working families for whom the goal of owning an affordable, decent home often seems out of reach. In 2004, the JLL sponsored the first Women Build house in Lancaster County. Since Women Build began in 1991, over 1500 homes across the United States have been built by women.

During the 25th Celebration Anniversary Year of Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity, the League is again partnering with Habitat to build two homes. The League has already committed $75,000 to cover the costs of the first home. We are asking our community partners and friends to join us in raising the additional $75,000 to sponsor the second home.

January 2010, a point-in-time survey by United Way of Lancaster County: there were 724 homeless individuals, including 191 children, in Lancaster County, living in emergency or transitional shelters, or no shelter at all.

Heather Shelton - making a difference one nail at a time! L-R: Kate Zimmerman (Habitat for Humanity); Samantha Besnoff, Heather Shelton, and Becky Bartos (Junior League of Lancaster Members)

Founded in 1923, the Junior League of Lancaster, a non-profit, 501-c-3 charity, reaches out to women who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to volunteerism. We currently have over 300 active and sustaining members. Annually the League focuses its support on a variety of community projects, committing financial support and hundreds of volunteer hours in an effort to fulfill our mission to improve the community.

With our Honorary Chair, Anne Shannon from WGAL TV-8, we are asking you to become a Women Build sponsor and join us by providing financial and volunteer support to build safe, energy efficient and sustainable homes for two families.

Below are pictures of our JLL Members hard at work on Saturday, September 16, 2011! Women Build Volunteers in front of our JLL Sponsor Sign Becky Bartos high on a ladder!
Samantha Besnoff is not afraid of heights! Look at her on the rafters!!
Christine Kmieczak and Honorary Chair, Anne Shannon, WGAL News AnchorConsider joining the Junior League Lancaster with this wonderful community building opportunity. To be considered a true Women Build, we need 80% of our volunteers to be women. Interested? See our web site: Junior League of Lancaster Link