Great Falls Interact Group presents donation to Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity after working on-site for summer service project. Pictured, from left, Project Foreman Joey Monile, future homeowner Lakena Scott, Katherine Joostema, Ashley Baradari, Jared Tewodros, Mark Wilson, Declan Thinnes, Hayden Owens, Thompson Brownlee, Chloe Bennett, Lynchburg Habitat Executive Director Donna Vincent, Allie Lailas, Gabe Achi Photo Contributed
Great Falls Rotary Interact Club lent a helping hand to Habitat for Humanity in Lynchburg, Va. A group of Great Falls Rotary Interact members donned hard hats, tool belts and put in some major sweat equity as they spent three days in Lynchburg, constructing a house from the ground up, as part of a summer service project supporting Habitat for Humanity. The team, consisting of ten teenage Interact group members and four parents, left Great Falls Tuesday, July 26 for the Lynchburg work site and returned on Friday, July 29, excited about all they had accomplished in those three days.
In near 100 degree heat the group, along with other Habitat volunteers experienced in constructing homes, built, raised and secured the exterior and interior complete with door and window frames. The Interact group met and worked alongside the future owner of the house, Lakena Scott. “Working with the amazing crew and volunteers of Habitat for Humanity and having the opportunity to contribute to the construction of Ms. Scott’s home was a truly remarkable experience,” said Thompson Brownlee, an Interact club member. “I am so thankful to everyone who taught us about construction and the importance of owning a home.”
“The Interacters were relentless in their house-building!” said Jeff Thinnes, local Great Falls Rotary member and one of the parents on the trip. “They are an impressive team of hard working teens dedicated to helping others. For me personally, watching them work together to accomplish so much over 3 days was one of the top highlights of my lifelong Rotary experiences.”
Through their fundraising efforts, the Great Falls Interact Rotary club raised $2500 before they left for their service project. Along with a matching grant from the Rotary Club of Great Falls Foundation, the Interact group presented a check for $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity for future home-building projects. The volunteers’ hard work also captured the interest of a Lynchburg ABC television station that interviewed Interacter Ashley Baradari on the site and ran the piece on their noon and evening programs.