Pittsfield Schools and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity Team Up - November 06, 2007
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity (CBHFH) and the Carpentry program at Taconic High School will sign a contract on Friday, November 9 at 8 a.m. The event will take place in the carpentry shop at the high school. The contract will allow high school students, as part of their vocational studies, to build residences at Habitat construction sites.
This year, the students will help to build a Habitat duplex already under construction on West Union Street in Pittsfield. In 2008, the students will be the key workforce for a Habitat duplex on Daniels Avenue.
The new working relationship solves a problem for the school building trades program which, in the past, has had mixed success securing access to sites where vocational students can gain hands-on experience building new housing. Habitat will benefit from the additional workforce supplementing the efforts of volunteers who work two days a week at the organization’s residential building and rehab projects. Expected to be on hand for the event on Friday morning will be members of the School Committee, Superintendent Katherine Darlington, Keith E. Babuszczak, the school system’s new Assistant Superintendent for Career/Vocational Technical Education and Doug McNally, Principal of Taconic High School. CBHFH volunteers Lou Coelho and George Litchfield, co-Chairs of the organization’s Building Committee, Vice President/Treasurer Charlie Cook and President Sara Hathaway will represent that organization. Students from the vocational program will also be present. Interested media representatives should check in at the school’s main office first.
Student escorts will lead visitors to the Carpentry Shop. CBHFH is a non-profit, volunteer organization partnering with families in need to build or rehabilitate simple, decent houses for homeownership. The local chapter began in 1993, and has now built or rehabbed sixteen homes in Pittsfield. The CBHFH chapter is currently constructing five additional homes. CBHFH works with families and communities, recognizing with respect their dignity, diverse needs, and contributions. Prospective volunteers can call the CBHFH office at 442-3181. |