Students boost kitchen project
When Pleasant View Presbyterian Church in Smock needed help with electrical work after the congregation decided to renovate their kitchen, they found it in a group of young adults who were willing to share their time and skills. “The fact they would volunteer their Saturdays – no doubt when they could be doing something else – to help a church has touched me and the other folks in the congregation,’ said the Rev. Keith Conover, pastor.
Todd Thompson, 18, a Vanderbilt resident and senior at Uniontown Area High School, coordinated the effort by a group that included students and former students of the electrical construction program at Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School in Georges Township. Instructor Gus Rossi also volunteered his time to work with the group.
“My grandparents go to the church and they asked me if we could do it,’ said Thompson, who is a student of the electrical construction program. “I talked to Mr. Rossi and he said he would help.’
Besides Thompson, none of the volunteers had any ties to the church. They included Jason Bertovich, Timothy Pitts, Travis Check, Rick Walters, Donald Williams, Adam Check, Rick Myers, Anthony King, R. B. Thomas and Rossi.
Rossi put the emphasis on the young adults.
“I think it was a fine thing they decided to spend their weekends doing something positive that would benefit others,” Rossi said. “We had a lot of folks there. We have to give credit to the kids for wanting to be there. I said if they can volunteer their time, I can be there, too.’
The group has volunteered over several Saturdays to wire the kitchen, usually beginning at 9 a.m. and finishing between noon and 3 p.m.
“The kids ran various circuits and installed an electrical conduit,’ Rossi said. “We had a lot of fun and the ladies fed us lunch. It was very nice.’
“They were great,’ said Conover. “They got here and worked the whole time. We had to make them stop and eat lunch. If you didn’t make them stop, they’d have kept working. They are excellent workers and Mr. Rossi is a gem.’
Pleasant View took on this project with the idea of performing some of its own community service projects. Conover explained the church had discussions several years ago about operating a service similar to a senior citizens center but didn’t have an adequate kitchen. The church has also talked about having a kid’s club or youth night that might include a meal.
Serving the community in these capacities, however, means the church would have to meet health regulations for its kitchen. To do so, they are moving their small kitchen to a Sunday school classroom in the building that is twice the size and began the renovation they hope to finish later this year.
Church volunteers are helping with the project but they are unable to do specialized work, such as meeting electrical requirements. They said they were very grateful the young adults stepped in to help.
Rossi said, “These kids do a lot of volunteer work that people don’t see. And Todd (Thompson) is enlisted in the Army and will be leaving in July.’
Thompson said, “I did it just because they asked me. I was glad everyone came to help.’