A student from York helped provide handcrafted wooden benches for a new nature trail coming to West Manchester Township. The Senior Trail and Nature Park is a partnership between Normandie Ridge and West Manchester Township and will be for York County residents.
Eighteen-year-old Sabine Harvey, of York, is a member of the local Venturing Crew, a co-ed organization designed to help develop leadership and teamwork through outdoor adventures and activities. Sabine’s goal was to receive the Summit Award, which is the highest honor of the Venturing Crew. In order to qualify for the award, a crew member must lead a group and complete a community service project. Sabine met with Lori Trimmer, parks and recreation director in West Manchester Township, who told her that the new West Manchester Senior Trail and Nature Park needed benches. The groundbreaking for the trail is scheduled in late summer 2019.
Sabine decided to make eight wooden benches for the trail, and enlisted the help of her Venturing Crew volunteers. The township, along with a donation from Lowe’s in York, provided treated wood for the project, which can withstand the elements outdoors. Sabine then found multiple blueprints online for benches and shared them with Fran Ashby, Normandie Ridge’s Vice President of Donor Relations and Philanthropy. Once a design was selected, the crew got to work measuring and cutting the wood and putting the benches together. Sabine said, “This was a lot of volunteer work for the Venture Crew. There was plenty of time spent connecting with both Lori Trimmer and Fran Ashby and it took three months to make all of the benches.”
Sabine was thrilled with the finished product, “It was a lot of hard work and I never have worked on anything this big. I’m pretty proud of what we accomplished and I know the benches will be enjoyed by those using the nature trail.”
Sabine is now heading to college at Bloomsburg University and will major in psychology. She said, “I am thinking about volunteering at Bloomsburg University. I really enjoy helping people.” Sabine doesn’t want to be a carpenter, but did say woodworking would be an interesting hobby to continue.
Sabine Harvey is a shining example of being called to serve, and Albright is proud that she is part of our family. Albright invites you to continue your mission by joining us at one of our six locations. Visit www.AlbrightCare.org for information on senior living, day programs, giving or volunteering.
