Building Trades News

By Grace Lee
BTN Reporter

 

Members and apprentices of Painters District Council 36, and
Floor Covering help renovate Salvation Army facilities.

 

M ore than 40 people evacuating from the Gulf Coast were the first residents to find temporary homes in Bell Gardens, where hundreds of building trades craft volunteers helped transform a Salvation Army warehouse into a sleek new facility.

In an historic partnership, more than 500 people from the labor, non-profit and business communities embarked on the ambitious project, which was coordinated by labor and community groups. Building Trades volunteers worked around the clock to complete Operation Angel Island within one week.

“It’s great to see that all the hard work put in by members of the building trades crafts made a difference to so many people left without homes,” said Martin Ludlow, head of the LA County Federation of Labor.

Salvation Army officials predict that the facility will soon reach its 200-person capacity within the coming weeks, as vouchers run out and people start moving out of hotels and motels.

On-site services will include basic medical care, mental health counseling, and assistance in housing and school. The residents will also have an Internet café, allowing hurricane survivors to locate and communicate with loved ones as well as a playground for children. More than 300 families or 1,200 people at a time will be able to find temporary housing there.

Workers from the building trades and crafts unions worked around the clock to transform the 120,000 square-foot warehouse within days so the first families could move in in September.

“The amount of work that went into this effort is unbelievable,” said Kim Kraft, Assistant Business Manager for IBEW Local 11, and construction coordinator for Operation Angel Island.

J.F. “Doc” Holiday, a retired electrician of 37 years, volunteered his time to the project, saying, “I feel for the people living through the hurricane, and I want to be able to help them.”

Local 11 members Frank Hunt and his son, Shawn Hunt worked side by side to install lighting. They said they were glad to be able to help create a temporary home for the hurricane victims.

Chris Cordova, who was a member of the IBEW’s apprenticeship program, said, “There is a good feeling out here.”