Rotarians from across the region recently teamed up with Habitat for Humanity for a hands-on day of service, helping move one step closer to building safe, affordable housing in our community.
The project took place at a home under construction on Dart Drive in Lansing, where volunteers focused on painting baseboards and trim that will soon be installed throughout the house. With a strong turnout from multiple Rotary clubs and community members, the energy was high and the work got underway quickly.
Inside the build site, baseboards were carefully arranged on sawhorses as volunteers grabbed rollers and got to work. The collaborative spirit was evident right away, as participants worked side by side toward a shared goal.
Dryden Rotarian Evan Kurtz helped oversee the operation, bringing both Rotary and Habitat experience to ensure everything ran smoothly.
“Rotary’s building with Habitat. Today we’re here at Dart Drive painting the baseboard trim that will go in this house,” Kurtz said. “We should be able to knock it out pretty easily today, and starting next week, people will be installing it throughout the home. It’s a lot of fun.”
As each piece was completed, volunteers stacked the trim with separators to allow for proper drying, a small but important detail that help keep a construction project on track.
Leadership from across Rotary clubs also showed up in full force. Members from Ithaca, Dryden, Cortland, and Cortland Breakfast rolled up their sleeves and pitched in alongside family members and additional volunteers.
“It’s great that we’re here working with Habitat for Humanity,” said Mike Katz, President of the Ithaca Rotary Club. “They are one of Rotary International’s partners, and here in Ithaca, we’re proud to send a crew to help build this house for a family in Lansing.”
With such a strong volunteer turnout, the team made quick progress. Even as some participants headed out, others stepped in to keep the momentum going. Before long, the group was down to the final pieces and completed the work in record time.
This project is a powerful example of Rotary’s mission in action, people coming together with trusted partners like Habitat for Humanity to create lasting, meaningful impact in our community.