New York City Union Carpenters Team Up with Heart 9/11 to Rebuild the Bahamas in the Aftermath of Hurricane Dorian

Members of the New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters donate their time and skills to rebuilding efforts in the Bahamas following widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian

New York City Union Carpenters Team Up with Heart 9/11 to Rebuild the Bahamas in the Aftermath of Hurricane Dorian
Photo Credit: HEART 9/11
NYCDCC members volunteering in the Bahamas
 
New York, NY – The New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters (NYCDCC) is rebuilding homes and hearts with Heart 9/11, a disaster-relief organization that is now on-the ground mobilizing the rebuilding and recovery efforts in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian ravaged the islands and left families homeless. Members of the Carpenters Union are rising to the needs of the hardest hit and lending their time and skills to rebuild homes that were destroyed and washed away by the catastrophic Category 5 hurricane in September. The union is actively recruiting NYCDCC members to volunteer throughout the month of October to improve safety and living conditions for Bahamian families and individuals impacted. 
 
“Many of our members have family and friends affected by this tragic disaster and a big part of what we believe in is being there for every community. The carpenters I have the privilege to know have a valuable skillset and are uniquely equipped to make an impact especially for those in need in New York City and abroad,” said Joseph Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters. “From rebuilding our communities at home after Hurricane Sandy, to helping recovery efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and now volunteering time and skills to rebuild communities in the Bahamas, our members always show up to lend a helping hand. Building is what we do best – we’re proud to use that strength to make positive impacts.”
 

NYCDCC members volunteering in the Bahamas (Photo Credit: HEART 9/11)
 
Carpenters in the NYCDCC have highly specialized skills in the building trades that allow them to build a structure from the ground up. The volunteer carpenters will transfer those skills from the construction site to the disaster site with one goal in mind: To ensure that every person is safe and has a roof over their heads.
 
Caribbean American Weekly interview with Rob Maloney, volunteer carpenter with local 157
 
Volunteers from NYCDCC’s nine Local unions across the region were deployed to the Bahamas throughout the month of October, ending their recent mission this past weekend.
 
The New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters and its members have built community centers, farm stands in food insecure communities, and homes for veterans, and they have volunteered in massive recovery and rehabilitation efforts following natural disasters. The District Council also has a positive track record of partnering with the Heart 9/11 for similar recovery and rebuilding missions. Heart 9/11 aims to be a “Healing Emergency Aid Response Team” and was created by the NYPD, FDNY, and NY State Building Trades after the September 11th, 2001 tragedy, so that the lessons learned from the 9/11 recovery could be applied emergency and disaster situations. The NYCDCC lost 18 members in the tragic events of 9/11.
 
About NYCDCC
The New York City District Council of Carpenters is a representative body comprised of nine individual Locals and 22,000 union members. The District Council functions as the voice for thousands of New York City’s most dedicated and skilled Carpenters, Millwrights, Dockbuilders, Marine Divers, Core Drillers, Timbermen, Concrete Carpenters, Cabinetmakers, Floorcoverers and Industrial Workers.
 
 

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