Work begins this weekend to build the first of 20 new homes for the needy for Habitat for Humanity in Hillsdale, Mo. This Saturday, the Electrical Connection will begin installing what will ultimately be 15 miles of wiring in the homes - enough to stretch from St. Louis to Chesterfield. A total of six homes will be wired this weekend, with work wrapping up on all 20 homes later this year in a summer of building. The work by an army of 25 IBEW Local #1 electricians and union electrical contractors is part of Habitat for Humanity's "Hillsdale 2005" project. Contractors are performing the work at a huge discount, while The Electrical Connection is donating total of $60,000 in materials and services to complete the job. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local #1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) form The Electrical Connection.

Saturday, June 18, 2004 from 7 a.m. to noon.

From downtown, take Highway 70 west to the Lucas & Hunt exit. Go south to St. Louis Ave. and make a left. Take another left at Edmund Ave and go to the 2000 block of Edmund.

Meghan Brown at 314/721-2828 (314/712-0810). On site: IBEW Local #1 Business Representative and Electrical Connection Board Member Matt Lampe at 314/550-2384 (cell).