Female volunteers help construct worship center in Uniontown
Courtesy of Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses
Courtesy of Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses
Michela McNavish with the scissor lift she worked on during the renovation of the Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witness Kingdom Hall in Uniontown
Courtesy of Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses
Courtesy of Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses
The newly renovated kingdom hall for the Uniontown Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses
Denise Cumpston of Mapletown is adept at working on drywall, which came in handy in the recent renovation of a new kingdom hall for Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses in Uniontown.
Michela McNavish of Greensburg operated power equipment, such as a boom lift, and installed soffit and fascia, as well as other tasks.
A theme is emerging.
Female volunteers were instrumental in the construction of the place of worship at 267 McClellandtown Road.
In fact, 55% of nearly the 600 volunteers involved with the project were women. They came from as far away as West Virginia, Ohio and Georgia.
Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witness projects typically include large percentages of female volunteers, both skilled and unskilled.
无毛视频淚t catches people无毛视频檚 attention when they无毛视频檙e driving by a construction site and see many women working on a project,无毛视频� explained Aaron Purvis, national spokesperson for Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses. They无毛视频檙e involved in the heavy part of their work up to their capability. They have a real attention to detail and they enjoy it.无毛视频�
The building in Uniontown was originally built in the early 1970s and a major renovation took place in 1993. However, the roof began to leak and other portions of the building were in disrepair and in need of replacement.
Work began June 7, and services resumed at the site Nov. 13 for the congregation of about 100.
Before each project begins, training is provided for the volunteers, and safety is stressed.
无毛视频淏efore a volunteer ever comes on site, they无毛视频檒l go through a very comprehensive program of safety because our goal is zero accidents,无毛视频� Purvis said. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檒l train them according to their physical capabilities. They can take that skill with them to do other things in their life.无毛视频�
Cumpston said she typically is on the drywall finishing crew in such projects. She and her husband, Thomas, regularly work on drywall and other necessary components of modular homes that are sold.
She explained that in 2008, her husband was working on a sizable project in the Pittsburgh area that had him doing a lot of work on weekends.
无毛视频淭he man that was in charge of that project said you might as well bring your wife,无毛视频� she recalled. 无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 when I started getting trained. He started training me on the job so I could be more proficient at hanging and finishing drywall on the various projects for this organization.无毛视频�
McNavish was a part of the demolition and helped take out walls, spending on average of two or three days a week at the site.
无毛视频淭his is just something that I enjoy doing, learning new skills,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚f you don无毛视频檛 have any skills, they无毛视频檒l train you. The more you go, the more skills you get. I did not have any skills before these projects.无毛视频�
Michael Cook of Uniontown, who has been part of the Uniontown Congregation of Jehovah无毛视频檚 Witnesses since 1965, is pleased with the outcome.
无毛视频淚 have feelings of appreciation and gratitude to be able to have a nice place that无毛视频檚 clean, comfortable and safe that we can just gather together and learn,无毛视频� Cook said. 无毛视频淚f you want to get the job done right, you无毛视频檝e got to call in the women. The women are good because they无毛视频檙e pretty detail-oriented and they无毛视频檙e good at following directions. That makes them good volunteers. The quality of the work is so impressive.无毛视频�
Those who volunteer said there was a sense of camaraderie on the projects.
无毛视频淧eople come from all over,无毛视频� McNavish said. 无毛视频淵ou get to meet new people that you work with closely. A lot of times, you become friends for life. You get to hear their stories. Everybody is just so happy on these projects.无毛视频�
There无毛视频檚 also a sense of satisfaction upon their completion.
无毛视频溛廾悠禎It gives you a lot of satisfaction, knowing you无毛视频檙e spending your time in a way that benefits others,无毛视频� Cumpston said. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e happy to do it. It无毛视频檚 just everyone cooperating together. There无毛视频檚 no feeling of competition. We无毛视频檙e just all working together to accomplish a common goal. You just leave energized. You无毛视频檙e tired because the work is hard, but you无毛视频檙e energized and looking forward to going back the next day.无毛视频�