As Christopher Krahel walks down the hall at the Lansing Community Center, he proudly points out the various works in progress. From a senior citizens gathering room to an art room, the community center is working toward filling some voids in the community.

Just two years ago, the Community Foundation of Lansing, Ohio, was founded and its first project was to develop the community center in the former Lansing Grade School. Krahel, when not working fulltime at Stoney Hollow Tire in Martins Ferry, can be found at the community center as he serves as president of the foundation.

Krahel admits the facility has a long way to go to meet its goals that include:

• encouraging community education, social gatherings and events

• providing a family atmosphere sharing one generation's knowledge with another generation

• nurturing individual self worth with accessible resources and opportunities for sharing one's ideas, talents and gifts.

"This past summer we really got things going," Krahel said. "We always have someone doing something in here whether it's kids practicing basketball or a someone renting space for birthday party. We serve a lot of different needs."

Krahel said a meet-the-candidates event held last year was well received and the foundation hopes to do that again this year. In June, the center will be hopping with fun when the June Lansing Follies/Variety Show will be held.

The center receives financial assistance from the Lansing United Methodist Church located across the street from the center. "We get enough to keep the lights on for now and we are looking at ways to raise money. We rent out the gym for basketball and parties and we are applying for grants. We hope to become part of the Belmont County Senior Services," Krahel noted.

Foundation secretary Jenine Zackey serves as grant writer for the center and is actively seeking financial assistance for programs and supplies.

Krahel said while the senior citizens have been very active at the center, the facility is geared toward all ages. There is a fitness room under construction, a summer program for children in the works and child care room for when events are taking place, an art room, a game room and a computer lab. The outdoor playground remains intact from when the building served as a school. After Easter, there is some thought about sponsoring a dinner mystery theater.

"We also have weekly non-denominational prayer services at 6 p.m on Thursdays. While we are Christian-based, everyone is welcome here," Krahel added.

The building is owned by Ken Webber who lives out of the area. Krahel said he has been a very good landlord to the group as well as the business community which has provided donations that include carpeting and some services.

From one day to the next, the Lansing Community Center is busy with some sort of activity. On some days, local seniors are playing cards or you can find Gary Titchenell sewing away on a sewing machine as he makes baby quilts to be raffled to raise funds or to just give away to new mothers.

This month, the center hopes to sweeten Valentine's Day with a pancake and sausage breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and then an Oldie's Dance from 7-10 p.m. that night with music from the '50s played by a DJ. The dance is sponsored by the senior citizens who meet and socialize at the center and everyone is invited. The cost for each event is just $5 per person.

For more information about the community center, call Krahel at 740-635-1514 or cflolcc@gmail.com