LiUNA Local 5 Hosts Family Birdhouse Build to Connect Generations and Nature
by PJ DelHomme
To strengthen community ties, promote conservation (and an overall good time), the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) partnered with LiUNA Local 5 to turn its membership hall into a woodworking shop on April 18 for its first-ever family birdhouse build. The event brought together retirees, active members, and their families to construct cedar nesting boxes for local wildlife.
LIUNA Local 5’s membership hall became a woodworking shop during its family birdhouse build.
The event, spearheaded by Local 5 business agent John Laliotes and office manager Kimberly Beatty, aimed to bridge the gap between professional labor and family life. Beatty first learned of the USA’s projects at a Tradeswomen Build Nations event and, after speaking with USA Director of Conservation Programs Sam Phipps, decided to host a family birdhouse build for LiUNA Local 5.
“Half of our membership is hardcore sports fans, the other half is big into the outdoors,” Beatty said. “We thought this was something that might interest the outdoorsy members.”
The event drew about 26 participants, half of whom were parents. More than 20 union volunteers, including retirees, also helped. All told, participants built nearly 30 birdhouses, complete with custom paint jobs. The USA supplied all the birdhouse kits and paint kits from USA National Conservation Funds.
“When we build things, we sometimes take away habitat,” said Beatty. “This was a small way for our members to add some habitat back while teaching the younger generation about nesting and the importance of our local environment.”
The hall was prepped for the organized chaos of a youth workshop. Volunteers used plastic sheeting and cardboard to protect the facilities, creating a focused environment where children could assemble their kits and customize them with paint. Each child left not only with a handcrafted birdhouse but also with a paintbrush kit to continue their work at home.
Each child left with a handcrafted birdhouse and paint kit.
“I think everyone had a good time, and, as organizers, we learned a few things,” said Laliotes. “Next year, we’re going to do it a month or so earlier. I know plenty of guys who would have brought their kids, but soccer or baseball had already started. This year was a good test. We were happy with the turnout.”
While the event was designed for families, the Local 5’s retirees found particular value in the project. Don Gerritsen has done everything from concrete foundations to the rooftops, he says, and likes to get youth off their phones and learning something useful. “I’ve spent my life building—37 years with Local 5, following in the footsteps of my father and grandfather,” he said. “Helping to build these birdhouse kits was a great way to reach out to the kids. Of course, I had to take mine home to make it weather-tight—torch the grain and seal it with some polyurethane.”
Both kids and adults enjoyed the event.
Other long-term members, including 30-year veteran Scott Dignin, volunteered their time to drill wood sets and manage logistics, ensuring the event’s success. Members and their families also enjoyed the hands-on project.
“My son and I had so much fun. It was a great way to get to know other union members and reconnect with nature after a long winter,” said Nora Doyle, a family member who attended with her 13-year-old son. “This event felt welcoming and well-planned, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the birds back to our yard.”
About LiUNA Local 5:
Chartered on December 7, 1912, LiUNA Local 5 represents skilled laborers in the Chicago Heights area. As part of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 5 is dedicated to protecting workers’ rights, ensuring job-site safety, and fostering a strong sense of community and craftsmanship among its members.
