Rotary Club volunteers support Sussex County Habitat For Humanity

On a beautiful fall day, three volunteers from the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club reported for duty Sept. 23 at the Habitat for Humanity Sussex County construction site at Ingram Village in Ellendale. Led by Rotarian, Habitat board member and longtime volunteer Tony Etze, Judy Mangini and Valerie Ellenberger lent their talents to a number of tasks in the framing of a new home. This was the second time in 2015 that volunteers from the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club offered a day of their time to the organization.

In addition to offering labor efforts, the club presented a $1,000 donation to Kevin Gilmore, executive director, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, to assist in the organization’s home repair and home building programs. Funds for the donation were part of the $12,000 proceeds raised at Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club’s popular golf tournament to aid local and other Rotary charities.

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is responsible for building or renovating eight to 10 homes each year sold to deserving individuals or families. In addition to the home building program for which Habitat is best known, the Sussex County group also offers a home repair program. Originally known as Brush with Kindness, the program has evolved from performing 18 minor home repairs to doing more major home repair projects such as roof repair and replacement of HVAC systems.

“Habitat for Humanity relies upon the efforts of volunteers and individual and group donations such as that provided by the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club in order to provide the services we offer families in Sussex County,” Gilmore said. “The Rotary donation will help defray the costs associated with our major repair programs and home building programs."

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club meets 7:30 a.m., Tuesdays at Ocean Grill II on Long Neck Road. Visitors are welcome. Go to www.longnecksunriserotaryclub.com.