ST. LOUIS - Undaunted by summer storms that nearly destroyed the hopes of disadvantaged first time homebuyers in North St. Louis, volunteers, joined by the Electrical Connection, are repairing 20 storm-damaged Habitat for Humanity St. Louis homes in Hope Square. The Electrical Connection has begun installing what will ultimately be 15 miles of wiring in the homes, enough to stretch from St. Louis to Chesterfield. All told, the partnership of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local #1 and St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is donating $120,000 in materials and services to the project. Work should be completed this fall.

The Electrical Connection began wiring the homes, located in 2700 block of Coleman Avenue and the 2700 block of Bacon Street, on August 19, 2006, exactly one month after storms cut power to more than 500,000 St. Louisans and caused second-story damage to some of them.

"In the past few years the Electrical Connection has wired more than 80 homes for Habitat for Humanity," said Matt Lampe, business representative for the IBEW Local #1. "This year has been a challenge as the organization had to battle back from the effects of the storms. The Electrical Connection is pleased to be a part of the recovery effort."

An army of IBEW Local #1 union electricians representing Electrical Connection contractors have already finished wiring 10 homes and will complete the10 that remain this fall. Participating companies include: Branson Electric Co., Dickherber Electric, Inc., Grasser Electric, J. Bathe Electric, Lindsey Electric Inc., M.R. Bathe Electric, Northwest Electric Co., Premier Electric, Schaeffer Electric Co. and Vision Electric.

The Electrical Connection has also donated services to Rebuilding Together to improve homes for low-income, elderly persons in the area and for 10 years has donated skills and material in support of St. Louis City's "National Night Out" anti-crime program.