Skilled Electrical Workers and Suppliers Team up on Habitat for Humanity Benton Harbor Building Blitz – 20 Homes Wired in Record Setting Effort

The Electrical Workers Local153 and The Working Person’s Store give support and supplies; largest volunteer effort in history; over 160 workers contribute labor and expertise;

Lakeville, IN (PRWEB) July 1, 2005

“It was our biggest volunteer project ever”, said Mike Compton, Business Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”) Local 153. On Monday, June 20, over 160 IBEW members converged in Benton Harbor, Michigan, offering their time and skills as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy Carter Work Project. As a result of the IBEW Local 153’s members’ efforts, electric service was completed and the lights lit in 20 freshly built new homes by Thursday afternoon.

Supporting the Electrical Workers union on this project was Working Person’s Store, of Lakeville, Indiana and Buchanan, Michigan. “Working Person’s Store has been a long-time supporter of the trades in our area”, said F. Jay Mummey of Local 153. “They pitched-in with a donation of work gear and financial support too… the Timberland Work Boots that were donated were especially appreciated by everyone.”

Working Person’s Store president, Eric Deniger, was at the project bright and early Monday, helping the Electrical Workers with the rough-in work. “When we heard about the Habitat for Humanity project, we contacted Local 153 to see how we could help out. This is a great way for all of us to pull together for the benefit of our communities.”

Deniger added. “Many of our vendors helped out too with everything from work gloves to safety glasses. Of special note are the folks at Timberland, who generously contributed a matching donation of work boots for the Electrical Workers, who are really giving their all to help others.”

Officials with the Electrical Workers Local 153 stated that “miles of Romex and thousands of junction boxes” were installed on Monday. The electrical finish work was completed on Thursday, following the work done by drywall crews and other trades groups.

“I’ve never been more proud of being an IBEW member than I am right now”, said Mike Compton, Local 153’s Business Manager. It was a feeling shared by many of the volunteers from all over the Midwest. Another Electrical Worker modestly added, “This wasn’t a hand-out, it was a hand-up.”

About IBEW Local 153

Founded by two electricians in 1891, (at Stolley’s Bar in St. Louis), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”) is today the world’s oldest and largest union of electrical workers comprised of nearly 750,000 members worldwide, with its website located at http://www.IBEW.org.

IBEW Local 153 was founded in 1914, and serves a total of six counties in north central Indiana and southwestern Michigan. Local 153 maintains a website at http://www.IBEW153.com. Local 153 and its Contractors Group jointly participate in the IBEW +5 Homeowners Electrical Protection Plan, a no-cost program that covers a home's entire electrical system for five years; details are available at http://www.Plus5.org.

About Working Person

Established in 1995, Working Person’s Store is designed specifically to serve the needs of working people. The company offers a broad selection of durable, comfortable, affordable clothing, footwear and accessories, both at its flagship store in Lakeville, Indiana, and its award winning website at http://www.workingperson.com. In the store, or on the ‘net, the company has earned a reputation for value, quality, and a fanatical attention to customer service.

Working Person is a work apparel destination for brands like Carhartt, Dickies, Wigwam and Red Kap, plus leading footwear brands including Timberland, Carolina Boots, Red Wing, Chippewa Boots, Danner, Georgia Boots, Harley Davidson Boots, Wolverine Boots and many others.

Contact:

Eric Deniger, President and CEO

Working Person Enterprises, Inc.

574-784-3240

http://www.workingperson.com

Related Hyperlinks:

http://www.IBEW.org

http://www.IBEW153.com

http://www.timberland.com/corp/index.jsp?clickid=botnav_corp_txt

http://www.WorkingPerson.com

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