MARS — Employees of the Mars National Bank this month helped Hosanna Industries rehabilitate a house for a low income family.

On June 5 about a dozen employees provided what Hosanna projected to be $15,000 worth of siding and repair work to a home.

“We love partnering with Hosanna Industries because their work directly impacts the lives of the people of our community,” said Jim Dionise, bank president and CEO, in a news release. “It’s great to help financially, but also to get out and work on a project.”

Hosanna helps low income homeowners by providing home repair and rehabilitation services at no cost to the owner.

U.S. jobless aid applications riseWASHINGTON — Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose by 18,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 354,000. Despite the gain, the level remains consistent with moderate job growth.The Labor Department said Thursday that the less volatile four-week average increased by 2,500 to 348,250.Applications are a proxy for layoffs. Since January, they have fallen 6 percent. That suggests companies are cutting fewer jobs.

Existing home sales up in MayWASHINGTON — U.S. sales of previously occupied homes surpassed the 5 million mark in May, the first time that’s happened in 3½ years. The gain shows the housing recovery is strengthening.The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that home resales rose 4.2 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.18 million. That’s up from April’s pace of 4.97 million.Sales last exceeded 5 million in November 2009.