Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley has helped residents in the region since 1989, building 125 homes for families in need, making vital home repairs and advising people about home ownership.

You can help. There are many volunteer opportunities.

It can be as simple as recycling your old paint.

Habitat for Humanity’s next latex paint recycling drop-offs are 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 16 and Nov. 13, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1053 Grape St., Whitehall, in the former Circuit City building.

The paint must be in original containers and cannot be more than 10-years-old. Those dropping off paint should plan on waiting at the store to make sure that the paint is recyclable.

“The latex-paint-specific donations are turned into new paint. There are outdoor, indoor and chalk finish paints available in the store. The chalk paint has a matte finish that comes in fun colors that can be used for DIY projects like cabinets,” says Alli Ingram, Lehigh Valley Habitat Director of Marketing & Resource Development.

The ReStore shop is a major source of funding for Habitat. Since the store’s opening seven or eight years ago, Ingram says, “It sells everything from toilets to teacups.”

ReStore, centered around home improvement, has “housewares, lamps, home decor items and garden and lawn equipment. We attract everyone from homeowners to landlords to treasure-hunters.”

There is no telling what items might be found in the store. Companies often donate furniture and equipment. ReStore has its own trucks for large pickups.

Habitat homes have been primarily built in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. It also has a home-repair program in the Jordan Heights section, which is in the vicinity of St. Luke’s Hospital Sacred Heart Campus, in Allentown.

In partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network, Habitat is concerned with the health of families in their homes. Habitat does roof repairs, fixes broken windows, adds handicap accessibilities and weatherization.

Habitat has monthly virtual homeownership orientation meetings in English and Spanish for those who want to buy a home.

“We have thousands of volunteers in the Lehigh Valley. Over five thousand are registered with us. We get 20,000 volunteer hours per year,” says Ingram. The organization partners with local businesses and organizations.

People can volunteer at ReStore or help build homes. For construction projects, individuals or groups can volunteer. “A team could be anybody: a sports team, a company, a local church, or a group of friends. No experience is necessary.” Ingram says.

“Those new to building can learn from core skills from volunteers, who have 500 plus hours of experience. Most of them have thousands of hours,” says Ingram. The minimum age to work at a building site is 16 with a parent or guardian. Otherwise, it’s 18.

Habitat has a “Women Build” program, with the “Women Build Week” beginning the week of Oct. 17.

“Construction is male-dominated. We wanted to open it up to women,” says Ingram. “We encourage women to come out. No experience is necessary.

“It is a chance to build alongside other women and learn valuable skills on the job site. You can be taught about power and hand tools.”

Habitat has presented the “She Nailed It!” fundraiser, an all-women nail-hammering relay competition.

To make an appointment to bring in latex paint: www.habitatlv.org/latex-paint-recycling

Furniture pickup information and donation form is available on the website.

Information: Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley, www.habitatlv.org