Volunteer Spotlight 

Q: What is your name and what organization are you involved in?

A: Ryan Kempski, I am a student at The Geisinger School of Medicine.

Q: How old are you?

A: 26

Q: Where are you originally from?

A: Wilmington Delaware

Q: Why do you volunteer?

A: It is a rewarding and fun way to spend my free time on the weekends.

Q: Why or how did you choose The Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity as your outlet to volunteering?

A: I was a boy scout in the past, which made me realize how rewarding volunteer work is. I found out about WVHFH when I signed up for the Habitat for Humanity club at my school.

Q: What was your favorite part of the day?

A: I really enjoyed the yardwork, the weed whacking and trimming up the sidewalk to be specific.

Q: Do you see yourself as a returning volunteer with WVHFH?

A: Yes, I definitely do!

 Volunteer Spotlight 

(Nanticoke, Pa.) Gideon Johnson is a student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was born in North Carolina and grew up in Southern Utah. Gideon double-majored in Philosophy and Chemistry in undergrad and loves role-playing games, reading, and hiking.

Gideon was always interested in Habitat for Humanity, but it wasn’t until he joined the medical school’s club that he found his opportunity to get involved. This past weekend was Gideon’s third time volunteering with Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity and he describes his experience as “hard but fun”.

(Pittston, Pa.) During its most recent home dedication on December 11, 2022, Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity also recognized the recipients of four volunteer awards. One of these awards is coined the “Gottfried Csala Volunteer Award” and, this year, Ed Pall was the recipient.

Ed Pall is a drywall finisher and painter who has volunteered his time for multiple Habitat houses. He is also a carpenter, tile setter, woodworker and mason.

(Pictured from left to right are Kelly Bray and Ed Pall)

(Pittston, Pa.) During its most recent home dedication on December 11, 2022, Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity also recognized the recipients of four volunteer awards. One of these awards is coined the “Herm Shipplet Volunteer Award” and, this year, Prince of Peace Church was the recipient.

The Herm Shipplet Volunteer Award is given to a WVHFH volunteer who has demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to and unselfish support of our local Habitat affiliate during the past twelve months. The award is named after the late Herm Shiplett, who was the unofficial ‘Site Director’ on four of our earlier projects.

Prince of Peace Church has donated lunches to our volunteers four times a year since 2015. Members of the church meet every quarter to prepare homemade food for our volunteers and they then deliver these lunches directly to the building site.

(Pittston, Pa.) During its most recent home dedication on December 11, 2022, Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity also recognized the recipients of four volunteer awards. One of these awards is coined the “Golden Hammer Award” and, this year, Jim Zarra was the recipient.

The Golden Hammer Award recipient demonstrates exceptional commitment to help further the mission of Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity. Earlier this year, the Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore underwent a move to a new location. Jim assisted with the move every step of the way. His dedication to this process was unwavering and inspiring, thus making him a deserving recipient of the award.

Jim currently sits as the Vice President on the board of directors for Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity.

(Pictured from left to right are James Zarra and Kelly Bray.)

(Pittston, Pa.) Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity hosted its most recent home dedication on December 11, 2022 at its Pittston property. The dedication included a blessing of the new home, the giving of the keys to the new homeowner, and an award reception for volunteers that made an especially large impact in the past year.

Those who were a part of the homebuilding process and friends and supporters of the homeowner were in attendance.

After the new year, the Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity build team will relocate to begin a new project in Nanticoke.

(Lehman, Pa.) The 13th Annual Spencer Martin Memorial Bike Ride for Habitat took place on Sunday, May 15th in Lehman, Pennsylvania. Each year, the Spencer Martin Memorial Bike Ride for Habitat honors Spencer Martin’s lifetime devotion to Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity.

The bike ride began at Penn State Wilkes Barre and wound its way through 35 miles of the scenic Back Mountain. Plenty of returning and new riders joined the bike ride this year.

All proceeds from the event directly benefited Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity’s mission to eliminate poverty housing in the Wyoming Valley.

(Lehman, Pa.) Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity will host its 13^th Annual Spencer Martin Memorial Bike Ride for Habitat on Sunday, May 15th. Spencer Martin was a long-time devoted volunteer and member of Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors whose charitable volunteer work continues to inspire us today. Beginning at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus at 9:00am, cyclists will ride to raise money to continue Habitat’s effort to eliminate poverty housing in the Wyoming Valley. The 35-mile BIKE ride winds its way through the scenic Back Mountain.

Visit www.bikeforhabitat.org for more information

(Nanticoke, Pa.) Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity has announced the opening of its new ReStore location at 825 East Main Street, Nanticoke!

The local ReStore first opened in 2005 in a 10,000-square-foot building it leased at 421 W. Main St. in Nanticoke. The new location is in a newer 14,000-square-foot building that WVHFH purchased following the closure of Noble Furniture.

All proceeds go toward helping Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity’s mission of building and renovating homes for low-income families to purchase on terms they can afford.

(Wilkes-Barre)-MotorWorld Toyota recently presented a $5,000 grant award to Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity. The charitable contribution will help fund Habitat’s current home build in Pittston that will house a local, low-income family. Through donations and volunteer labor, Habitat is able to build and sell homes to partner families on terms they can afford. Presenting the check on behalf of MotorWorld Toyota was Rick Osick, president, MotorWorld | MileOne Autogroup.

From left, Rick Osick, president, MotorWorld | MileOne Autogroup; Karen Evans Kaufer, executive director, Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity; Mary Beth Allen, volunteer coordinator, Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity