Kimberly Adams has spent her life volunteering for a multitude of organizations, but lately, she's focused her efforts on doing construction for Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley. As soon as she attended a few how-to workshops at her local Lowe's, she instantly became interested in all the ways that construction can help those in need. She then went to Habitat for Humanity and partook in a Women Build—a program designed for women who want to learn about construction and build homes.
“At this point, I've been involved in all stages of construction that the volunteers do—framing, siding, insulating, painting, electrical and final trim [and] flooring and touch-up work,” Kimberly says. “Different people have different preferences and comfort zones; for me, just showing up and being willing to learn has led to many good experiences over time.”
Such good experiences seem to be infectious. Kimberly's activism with Habitat for Humanity has spread to others, and she urges inquiring minds to participate in any way that they're open to trying. If you're comfortable with construction, as Kimberly is, she encourages you to go for it. Kimberly notes that the Habitat Lehigh Valley ReStore on Grape Street in Whitehall, which aims to keep reusable materials out of landfills, is another great way to get involved. As many know, Habitat also accepts food donations, and she strongly urges others to consider giving back via food donation.
“These are all opportunities that can be pursued by calling the Habitat office, but as someone who has volunteered in many capacities for various organizations, a big part of the experience you're going to have depends on your persistence,” Kimberly says. If you can manage to be a fraction as persistent as Kimberly, you'll find your volunteer work to be extremely beneficial to those in need here in the Valley.
Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley245 N. Graham St., Allentown | 610.776.7737 | habitatlv.org
