It's no secret Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity partners with many local businesses.
But for some companies, the extent of that involvement is deeper than the public realizes, with support for Habitat manifesting itself at many levels.
Susquehanna Bank is a perfect example. While it supplies financial resources to Habitat, the bank has also devised creative ways for its employees to help — including one that allows workers to dress casually for a day if they make a small charitable donation.
The relationship with Susquehanna Bank "is one of our most treasured partnerships," said Stacie Reidenbaugh, executive director of Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity.
Among the other businesses with multilayered commitments to Habitat, she said, are Armstrong World Industries; B.R. Kreider & Son, Manheim; The High Cos.; Haller Enterprises, Lititz; and American Home Bank.
Susquehanna Bank started its "Casual For a Cause Day" this year, said Crystal Mills, the bank's community relations manager.
Each quarter, a different nonprofit is highlighted, she said, and the most-recent casual day — held Friday — benefited Habitat.
For a $5 donation, any employee gets to dress casually, Mills said. It's a popular program, she said, because "they like the opportunity to wear jeans."
And with about 3,200 employees in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia, Susquehanna can raise a nice sum by doing this, Mills said.
The money from Friday's casual day will go to Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity and other Habitat chapters in the states the bank serves.
A second way Susquehanna promotes employee involvement in Habitat is by encouraging volunteerism at construction sites.
"These build days are primarily work days," Mills said, and the employees don't have to take vacation or personal time to participate.
Susquehanna had been doing this "sporadically" for several years, she said, but recently upped its commitment.
"We're taking a corporate approach now to activate people," Mills said.
Wednesday, a Habitat build day at 225 Perry St., Columbia, attracted 10 volunteers from Susquehanna, the maximum number.
Signups are organized by employees, she said, and the response to the Perry Street project was amazing, with dozens of people expressing interest.
Habitat is "near and dear to their hearts," Mills said.
Marilyn Hedge, a Community Reinvestment Act manager with the bank, volunteered for the Perry Street build day.
She said she enjoys helping "because it makes me feel like I'm giving back to the community."
Hedge said she's always interested in hearing the stories of families moving into Habitat homes.
Stephen Trapnell, Susquehanna's corporate communications manager, said employees like volunteering with Habitat because they can see the fruits of their labor. "It's such a tangible thing," he said.
Susquehanna assists Habitat and other organizations with homebuyer education as well, Mills said.
And then there's the financial support.
A recent $40,000 gift from the bank to Habitat was used on three Lancaster city projects: $10,000 for the final two homes in Emerald Valley; $10,000 for two rental houses on South Plum Street that were rehabbed and converted to homeownership; and $20,000 for the eight Habitat homes on South Queen and Beaver streets.
In addition, Susquehanna has issued a $475,000 loan to Habitat and opened a half-million-dollar line of credit for the nonprofit.
Reidenbaugh said the loan enabled Habitat to purchase the 19 building lots for its project at Fairview Avenue and Seymour Street in Lancaster city, which broke ground late last month.
"That's a huge, huge help to us," she said.
So is the line of credit, which is a first for the local organization. Reidenbaugh said it was done so financial resources would be available when the economy got worse.
Also, with all the building projects now under way, the line of credit allows Habitat to operate like a for-profit construction company, she said.
An additional contribution Susquehanna Bank made over the years was seed money to start Habitat's ReStore, Reidenbaugh said. It sells to the public new and gently used building supplies at a discount.
Trapnell said the collaboration with Habitat makes perfect sense.
"We're partnering with an organization that has a lot of experience finding affordable [housing] solutions."
Paula Wolf is a staff writer for the Sunday News. She can be reached by e-mail at pwolf@lnpnews.com. 
