• Posted: May 3, 2021
• 3M, better communities, Chicago Mayor, Continental Electrical Construction Company, Graybar Electric, IBEW Local 134, IBEW Local 134 Memorial Hall, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute, Inc., Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Linear Electric Inc., Milwaukee Tool, National Rebuilding Day, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago Board, RTG Electric Corporation, Steiner Electric, YouTube video

 

To begin this year’s Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago event on Saturday, April 24, Powering Chicago union contractors and electricians volunteered their time so that participating homeowners can have electrically safer homes. This is Powering Chicago’s 30th year of participating in this annual event.

Due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the event was different this year. The first component kicked off last Saturday, where close to 50 volunteers gathered in the IBEW Local 134’s Memorial Hall to assemble more than 60 care packages that were then delivered to the participating homeowners. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, President  of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago, Rick Jamerson, President of the IBEW Local 134 Tim Fitzgibbons, and Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago Board Member Matt Palmisano were in attendance to thank volunteers and to help assemble care packages. 

On the first four Saturdays in May, Powering Chicago union electricians and contractors will be volunteering their time to repair 55 homes in the Englewood and Chicago Heights neighborhoods. Repairs will include the installation of battery-powered motion sensing security lights and battery-operated doorbell systems.

“For us, these repairs may seem like small things, but to a homeowner who’s had an extension cord running through their house, and now they’re able to plug an appliance right where the outlet is, these things are big,” said Powering Chicago Director Elbert Walters III. “These homeowners just learn to accept all of these issues, but to be able to come in and make a direct impact, that’s what I enjoy the most.” 

Powering Chicago sends a special thanks to the following ECA Chicago & 134 Signatory Electrical Contractors: Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc., RTG Electric Corporation, Linear Electric Inc., and Continental Electrical Construction Company, IBEW Local 134 Business Agents and the Instructors from the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute for dedicating their time to National Rebuilding Day. Additionally, Powering Chicago would like to thank our sponsors, Graybar Electric, Milwaukee Tool, 3M, and Steiner Electric for their donations to the Powering Chicago care packages. Donations included energy-efficient light bulbs, smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, first aid kids, face masks, batteries, flashlights, and more.