WHAT: Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley welcomes Bike & Build Participants Peddling Across the Country for Affordable Housing
WHEN: Thursday, June 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: 345 N 8th St., Allentown
Allentown, June 16, 2015 – Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley will be welcoming over 33 Bike & Build bicyclists riding across the country and stopping in the Lehigh Valley on Thursday, June 18 to help build affordable housing in Allentown and Easton, and volunteer at Habitat’s ReStore.
Bike & Build organizes cross-country bicycle trips to benefit affordable housing groups. Through service-oriented cycling trips, Bike & Build benefits affordable housing and empowers young adults for a lifetime of service and civic engagement. With 15 build days along its route, Bike & Build will be peddling 4,063 miles from New Haven, CT to Half Moon Bay, CA.
Arriving in Allentown the evening of June 17, participants will sleep at Asbury United Methodist Church, which has graciously offered to host the group. The group will start the morning of June 18 at three Habitat sites. The group will work on 345 N 8th St. in Allentown on selective demolition work on a Habitat Lehigh Valley rehabilitation project. Part of the group also will work on insulating 625 Charles St. in Easton, a new construction Habitat home, and volunteer at the Habitat Lehigh Valley ReStore on 1053 Grape St. in Whitehall.
Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to provide affordable housing for hardworking low-income families. Homeowners commit to 250 hours of “sweat equity” to be eligible for a Habitat home. Partner families repay a no-interest mortgage as part of Habitat’s philosophy of giving potential homeowners a “hand up” instead of a “hand out.”
Since 1989, Habitat has built and renovated over 100 homes in the Lehigh Valley and dedicated its 100th home last year. Contact Habitat Lehigh Valley at 610-776-7737 for additional information or explore its initiatives by visiting the website at http://www.habitatlv.org/.
