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On any given week, you might find LARRY GROFF ’80 delivering Meals on Wheels by bicycle, tending his garden and beehives, serving on a nonprofit board, teaching Sunday school, or helping tenants in a low-income apartment building. Though the settings vary, a common thread runs through each of these activities: a desire to serve others and contribute to the work God is already doing in the world.
That commitment has guided Larry throughout his adult life. As a senior at Lancaster Mennonite, he attended a chapel presentation by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) that sparked an interest in international service. He went on to study agriculture and later served with his wife, Sherry, through MCC in Haiti and Cambodia, supporting agricultural development, reforestation efforts, and community programs.
Today, retirement has opened new opportunities for service closer to home. Larry volunteers with Meals on Wheels, Blessings of Hope, Lancaster Downtowners, and his church, while also serving on several nonprofit boards.
One of the most significant ways his faith has shaped this season of life began through volunteering at a transitional living facility for people experiencing homelessness. The experience inspired Larry and Sherry to purchase a low-income apartment building, where they have spent the past seven years walking alongside tenants as they navigate life’s challenges.
After a previous owner expressed hopes that the building would generate significant profit, Larry recalls, “my goals as a landlord were very different.” Instead, he has sought to offer stability, fairness, and support.
A lifelong cyclist, Larry still rides the bicycle he purchased while working at a bike shop during high school. Living in Lancaster City has allowed biking to become both a practical and intentional lifestyle choice—one small way he seeks to care for creation and his community.
Looking back on a journey that has taken him from Pennsylvania to Haiti, Cambodia, and back again, Larry remains grateful for God’s faithfulness.
His advice to today’s students is simple: be open to opportunities to serve, look beyond personal success, and find ways to encourage and empower others.
