Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday to mark the start of its next home construction project in Lancaster.
Well-wishers gathered at 625 Fremont St. in Lancaster’s SoWe neighborhood, the site of the project. Ebersole Builders has agreed to build a single-family home there and donate it to Habitat for Humanity — a first for the nonprofit, said its president and CEO, Andrew Szalay.
The home is being purchased by Kala Martin-Toney, a member of Habitat’s first-time homebuyers program. Martin-Toney was especially interested in a home on the block because she used to deliver mail along it: She is a U.S. Postal Service carrier and it used to be the last leg on her route.
The ceremony featured coffee, snacks and a ribbon-cutting, preceded by short speeches from, respectively, Szalay, Ebersole Builders President Gary Zimmerman and Director of Business Development Dale Shenk; State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El; and Martin-Tomey.
Szalay highlighted the significance of the project. Ebersole Builders’ generosity frees up resources, staff and volunteers that Habitat can put to work on other projects.
Zimmerman and Shenk both said they have been blessed to work with a lot of great clients and trade partners and they are happy to pass that blessing onto to Habitat. Shenk volunteered on a Habitat build site last year, sparking the idea of donating a whole home.
Smith-Wade-El said: “I am told Lancaster is welcoming city. The goal is to make more places that people can call home.”
“I am thankful for everyone’s contributions,” Martin-Tomey said. “Being a part of the Habitat family is an experience I will never forget. They are so welcoming and helpful. I was unsure if my dream would come true and you guys showed me different.”
Habitat’s first-time homebuyers go through financial education and must contribute several hundred hours of sweat equity.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology students assisted in the design of the home, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse with a garage.
“I was very on board for this project,” student Paige Heslop said. “It will help me grow in my career. I was on board because I got to help people in need. Hopefully, I get to do something like this in the future.”
The donation helps Habitat toward its goal of completing 30 homes by 2026 through its $4 million building campaign, “Open Doors.”
Speaking at the end of the event, Martin-Toney said: “I am Looking forward to the process. Seeing the home being built, stopping by. Seeing the process of the home being built until you get to the finish line.”
