MEADVILLE — Chris Haseleu was working very carefully, trying his best not to let even a single drop of paint touch the door knob as he slowly worked the brush around the outside edge of a large interior door.

He was taking pride in his work just as he does the hours he volunteers helping the local community through Phi Kappa Psi’s recent involvement with the Community Improvement Center.

“We’re here to help people,” Haseleu said. “We’re here to help the community.”

Haseleu was one of about seven Allegheny College Phi Kappa Psi brothers working on various jobs at The Arc of Crawford County in Meadville on Saturday morning as a service to the center.

The CIC, which started in August of 2004, performs services for those who need help. It completes about 30 small construction projects, 30 painting projects and 100 general home maintence projects each year such as building and installing wheelchair ramps, which cost between $600 and $700 apiece to build.

And all of it is done through the help of generous volunteers like Phi Kappa Psi, which recently presented the CIC a check for $565.

“As a fraternity and an organization on campus it is part of our ideals and founding beliefs that we should be helping the community,” said Allegheny sophomore John Kauffman, a member of Phi Kappa Psi.

The fraternity raised funds for CIC through a number of events, Kauffman said, noting each member took on his own project. The fraternity ended up hosting a dance party. It had various raffles, including a 50/50 at an Allegheny basketball game.

“I think we even sold grilled cheese sandwiches,” he said. “It’s just great to be able to give back.”

“As a fraternity you struggle with image,” he continued. “And it can be frustrating. We do what good we can.”

Phi Kappa Psi got on board with CIC following the United Way of Western Crawford County’s Make A Difference Day this past October. One of the clients Phi Kappa Psi was helping needed help beyond that particular day. And that was the very reason CIC was even established: to handle projects that could not be completed then and to continue to be a service to the community at all times.

“There are so many people who need help,” said Katie Huser, an AmeriCorps VISTA from Allegheny College assigned to the United Way of Western Crawford County to run Make A Difference Day and to help operate CIC. “We do a lot of wheelchair ramps, but we do anything that helps make a place safe and accessible for those in need.

“And all help comes from volunteers most from Allegheny College and the Americorp committee.”

The Phi Kappa Psi volunteers on hand at The Arc on Saturday were working primarily on painting projects. Others were in the building’s basement helping to move and organize items.

Huser said the CIC does something every weekend and has focused its attention on The Arc the past few weekends due primarily to weather.

“Being inside right now is ideal,” said Huser, who said the CIC was able to get into its warehouse last weekend to tear down and restore a wheelchair ramp and do various other projects.

And with a 22,000 square foot facility and just one maintenance person on duty The Arc welcomes the help.

“There’s a lot to do here,” Huser said. “We’ve painted the baseboards. … They’re clearing out offices and moving heavy furniture. It’s a big place.”

“We’re just happy to help,” Kauffman said.

“Just think the next time you are building a wheelchair ramp, you can say it is yours,” Huser said to Kauffman, referring to the check Phi Kappa Psi donated.



Lisa Byers can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at lbyers@meadvilletribune.com.



You can go

A cake walk, soup and ice cream social to benefit the Community Improvement Center is Feb. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Arc of Crawford County, 222 Chestnut St., Meadville. Donations of cakes/desserts and soup (or anything served from a crock pot) are requested. Tickets to participate are $1 each, six for $5, or $10 for unlimited tickets. A prize will be awarded for the best soup. The event is open to all ages.

-More information: Katie Huser at 337-1251 or Nancy Armstrong at 720-0617.



How to apply

Those seeking the help of the Community Improvement Center can download an application at uwaywestcc.org or call the United Way office at 337-1251. Applicants must exhibit poor health due to disability or illness, be a veteran and/or be 60 years of age or older. They must own their home, live in western Crawford County and have documentation of their household income.