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.