O'Brien students design Harvest House IV

Students and instructors at Emmett O'Brien Technical High School designed and constructed the framework for Harvest House IV, which will be put in place Sept. 24. /Contributed photo

Valley United Way’s Corporate Volunteer Council has announced plans to build Harvest House IV on the grounds of Shelton’s Riverwalk Sept. 24 as it 2011 Week of Caring project.
Similar to previous Harvest Houses built by the council in ‘05, ‘07, and ‘09, Harvest House IV will be constructed into a 400 square-foot house and filled with more than 100,000 donated non-perishable food items. The project is a way to raise awareness to the growing number of hungry in the Valley and encourages food donations to Valley United Way’s agencies, which strive to meet the ever increasing need.
“I am confident that the Valley community will once again reach out by donating food and joining hands to ‘build’ this one-of-a-kind Harvest House,” said Patricia Tarasovic, Director of the Valley United Way’s Volunteer Center. “Many people are struggling to feed their families and it’s important to help our neighbors in need. The Valley has proven time and again that we are an All-American City and Harvest House is another example of how we LIVE UNITED.”
Harvest House IV will be designed and constructed through a cooperative education program with Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia.
The Computer Assisted Design Department class created a new look for the house by incorporating modern design, support, and assembly concepts into a blueprint under the supervision of a structural engineer from Shelton-based architectural firm, Fletcher-Thompson. The carpentry class will be constructing the actual Harvest House IV soon.
O’Brien Principal Laurie LeBouthillier said, “Having my students involved in such a great project for the community is welcoming. We often look for means to help out those in need and to help construct a structure for such a wonderful cause is outstanding. This project lends itself perfectly for our trades. Our students work collaboratively for a valuable end product that will benefit numerous individuals and families.”
The CVC invites Valley businesses, civic organizations, schools, church groups, and the community at large to join the effort by running food drives in their organizations and bringing the food to the Shelton Riverwalk Sept. 24 to fill the walls of Harvest House.
The food will be distributed through the following agencies: Spooner House, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Valley YMCA, The Umbrella Program of Birmingham Group Health Services, The Salvation Army, Parent-Child Resource Center, and The Safe Home.