Prosperity Way Phase 1 Complete; Berkshire Gas Volunteer Day
Some 55 Avangrid/Berkshire Gas employees spent the day sawing, hammering and painting at Prosperity Way.
Nearly a year ago, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its three-phase affordable housing project. Now, volunteers are putting the final touches on the six homes and have already begun phase two.
"One of the homeowners is closing on her house tomorrow, so she's moving in this weekend, and then the other family is moving in next week," said Habitat CEO Carolyn Valli.
During Phase 2, seven additional homes will be built, the first modular ranch for that phase has been set, and the stick-built ranch is currently in construction. There are two additional ranches on site, to be set once foundations are cured and two colonial homes are scheduled for delivery on Monday, she said.
Phase 3 will have the construction of another seven homes. Central Berkshire Habitat hopes to finish the project before 2028, dependent on securing sufficient grant funding to bridge the gap between construction costs and affordable sale prices, Valli said.
Energy ran high on Thursday, as more than than 50 employee volunteers from Berkshire Gas, a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., spent the day helping move the project forward through painting, landscaping, and construction work.
"We are an energy company in all aspects. We generate wind energy, we have electric utilities and gas utilities, and this crew is demonstrating their energy for a good cause today to support home building for folks who might otherwise never be able to afford a home," said Chris Farrell, Berkshire Gas' communications and government relations manager.
The Habitat for Humanity is such a great program and the Prosperity Way development is an ambitious project that the organization is proud to be part of, he said.
"It's just an exciting opportunity for our folks to give back to the community and to make a real difference," Farrell said.
The day marks the company's second large-scale volunteer build effort, following a successful one pre-pandemic, which had 30 people working on Soldier On's Gordon-Deming Village in Pittsfield, he said.
"This is the first time we've really been able to muster the organization together for a Berkshire Gas-based build, and the response has been huge," Farrell said.
The build had 55 volunteers from the organization, bringing Avangrid staff from across the region including New York, Connecticut and, of course, Massachusetts.
"We have everybody here from Avangrid, all parts of it, corporate, renewables, gas, electric foundation, and that's just amazing," Avangrid Deputy CEO Kim Harriman said.
Working on this project reminds Harriman of how fortunate they all are, she said, highlighting the housing and financial struggle many are facing.
"It's not just sending a bill to a customer. It's understanding what community means and being a company who serves the community, and that is incredibly, incredibly important for each and every one of us to do that," Harriman said.
Work like this cannot be done without volunteers, Valli said.
"When you are putting this many houses in the ground and trying to get them finished, many hands make the work light and it makes it faster," she said.
There are so many creative ways Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity has seen groups volunteers from professional contractors volunteering personnel during the slow season to a bachelorette party, where they build in the morning and then do brunch in the afternoon.
"If you have time on your hands, even if you don't have a skill, you can come and learn a skill, but if you have a skill, you can also teach other people how to do those things," Valli said.
To inquire about volunteering opportunities call Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity's office at 413-442-3181 or visit the website.
Tags: affordable housing, berkshire gas, habitat for humanity, volunteers,
