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In California, the Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity is a bit richer these days. Forty shovels, 23 metal bow rakes, eight push brooms and two tampers richer, to be exact.

The donation came by way of Todd West, associate professor of horticulture in the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, a group of WVU students and several other universities after the annual Professional Landscape Network (PLANET) Student Career Days, a three-day competitive events among students enrolled in horticulture programs from colleges and universities across the country.

When researching prices for flying the team’s tools to and from the competition, West realized it would be more cost effective to purchase the tools in California.

As a professor who tries to incorporate service into all of his courses, West suggested the team contact the local Habitat for Humanity about donating the tools.

“They were delighted that we thought of them and accepted our donation promise,” he said.

What first started as a small donation of two shovels, one bow rake, one push broom and one tamper quickly grew into a pile of tools that would later fill the bed of a pickup truck.

“During the competition I asked other faculty members that had traveled by plane what they were going to do with their tools afterward,” West said. “I suggested they join our donation to the organization and they thought it was a great idea.”

Needless to say, the Habitat for Humanity representative wasn’t expecting the mound of tools when he came to pick up the donation.

“I think he was pleasantly surprised,” West said with a smile.

He wasn’t the only one happy to be lending a helping hand; the students on his team were as well.

“All of us were really excited,” said John McIntrye, a senior horticulture major from Pittsburgh. “We had talked about donating our tools, but it was great to see other schools helping out.”

No stranger to lending a helping hand, through a church group McIntyre helped build a house for a homeless Tijuana family at the age of 15, and has helped renovate homes in Preston County for five years.

“Everyone should give back if they can,” he said. “A little time goes a long way.”

West agrees.

“We have a responsibility to give back to the community, to those who are not as fortunate as we are,” he said.

The team will drive to next year’s competition in Georgia and transport already purchased tools, but West sees the potential to make a donation any time the team plans on flying.

Other team members include Renee Conneway, a horticulture major from Augusta, W.Va.; Nick Davidson, a horticulture major from Upperco, Md.; Karen McDaniel, a horticulture major from Standardsville, Va.; Kate Pulman, an environmental protection major from Summit Point, W.Va.; Vincent Rozette, a horticulture major from Downingtown, Pa.; Jordan Schramm, a horticulture major from Cheswich, Pa.; Hannah Stahl, a horticulture major from Oakland, Md.; Brian Wachtel, a horticulture major from Charles Town, W.Va.; Josh Wells, a horticulture major from Comfort, W.Va.; and David Welsh, a horticulture major from Upperco, Md.