Niagara University students perform service at Habitat for Humanity site

Back in July, 22 soon-to-be Niagara University freshmen participated in a day of service at a 60th Street site that had just been acquired by the Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity.

As the first group of volunteers to work at the location since it was procured from the City of Niagara Falls, the Niagara University Opportunity Program students cleared the lot of trees, shrubs, weeds and debris.

This past Saturday, several members of the Niagara University Lions Club advanced those efforts at the same three-bedroom home, where ground has now been broken. The students installed insulation, helped build the back steps, removed nails from boards and cleared the area in front of the property.

Participants included club President Molly Smarr, Treasurer Neil Luckman and members Elizabeth Marohn, Dakota Morano, Kyle Sentiff, Emily Eich, Emily Neubecker, Mira Cirasunda, Kristen Bunn and Maria Sciarrino. Sharon Green, faculty adviser for the NU Lions Club, accompanied them.

"It was great to see the NU students at our work site," said David Karwick, president of the Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity board. "Their contribution and hard work were very much appreciated. I am sure the future homeowner also thanks them! We would love to have them again."

The Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity expects the home to be completed in spring 2017. The organization's mission is to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses, so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God's love and can live and grow into all that God intends.

Inspired by St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara University students perform more than 1,000 hours of weekly community service during the academic year.

Lions Clubs International, comprised of more than 1.4 million members worldwide, is guided by its mission to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding.