Bill Lohr, James Lakanal, Luke Diehl, Chris Kau, Chris Busch

New Bethany, a nonprofit organization, recently announced its newly established facilities team.

The facilities team comprises New Bethany’s facilities director, Bill Lohr, alongside four facilities assistants: James Lakanal, Luke Diehl, Chris Kau and Chris Busch. Each member of this team brings a unique set of skills, ranging from property and project management to general handyman work, fitness, education, and assembly work.

Working in close collaboration with New Bethany’s Residential Services Director Lupita Bonilla, the facilities team plays a pivotal role in efficiently managing and maintaining 11 facilities throughout the organization, which include Coplay and South Bethlehem Single Room Occupancy sites, Grace House in Allentown, the Transitional Housing Facility, and the Wyandotte Street Apartments.

Over the past year, the growing facilities team has spearheaded numerous projects to enhance the quality of life for New Bethany’s clients and residents. These achievements include the remodeling and reopening of the Southside Drop-in Center, relocating the Trinity Soup Kitchen on Bethlehem’s Northside, and converting the bishop’s office into an apartment for live-in volunteers.

The team has also embarked on an ambitious renovation project for the Bethlehem SRO facility, upgrading floorplans, modernizing paint schemes, and renovating units. It has undertaken comprehensive technology overhauls to provide free Wi-Fi to soup kitchen guests, residents and food pantry users. The team recently began a renovation campaign in multiple apartments in the Wyandotte location, including new kitchens, bathrooms and flooring, modern lighting fixtures, and window and door restoration to meet historic requirements.

The goals of the facilities team include continuous modernization of its facilities, working on future New Bethany capital projects, and the remodeling of the Choice Food Pantry.