Union Carpenters Return to Pine Valley Youth Camp to Continue Volunteer Project

ELLWOOD CITY, PA – Over 26 union carpenters from the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC) recently volunteered their time and skills at Pine Valley Youth Camp in Ellwood City, helping advance construction on the camp’s new dining hall.

Members from Local Unions 420 and 432 installed metal doors and continue work on the building’s wooden siding. The volunteer effort was the second phase of the project, following work completed in March. As additional materials are donated, the volunteers plan to return to hang drywall and help complete the dining hall.

This year’s volunteers were led by participants in Local 432’s mentoring program, which pairs experienced union carpenters with newer members both on and off the jobsite. The project included a few mentees working alongside 12 mentors, providing an opportunity to develop their skills and learn the importance of giving back to the community.

“My mentors always told me, ‘You get out what you put in,'” said Dylan Anderson, an eight-year member of Local Union 432, delegate, mentor, and Washington County resident. “That’s something I’ve tried to live by, so now I’m getting involved and giving back however I can. Having this many carpenters volunteer their time shows how much our members care about the community. It was a great turnout and a great experience. For some of us who come from similar backgrounds as the kids and families this camp serves, it really felt like a full-circle moment.”

Pine Valley Youth Camp serves young people and families throughout the region, and the continued construction of its new dining hall will help support the camp’s mission for years to come.

About the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters: The EAS Carpenters is a labor union that trains and empowers the hardworking men and women of the skilled construction trades. The EAS Carpenters Union represents over 42,000 members across Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. The union’s members specialize in a variety of crafts, including interior systems, high-rise construction, concrete, heavy highway infrastructure, and specialty trades such as millwrights, floor layers, and tradeshow workers.

For more information, visit www.eascarpenters.org .