PITTSBURGH — You may know Construction Junction in North Point Breeze as a place to donate or buy old household goods.
But Channel 11's Peggy Finnegan found there are a few other ways this nonprofit gives back to the community that make us proud to be from Pittsburgh.
“The neat thing is whether it's doors, or cabinets, ceiling tiles, sinks, you name it we have it,’ said Interim CEO Christie Knott.
Inside and outside of its 30,000 square foot warehouse, you’ll find all sorts of donated material.
Knott said that helps keep the material out of landfills and gives it new purpose.
Most of the material is sold, but some is given to other nonprofits through Construction Junction’s Regives Program.
The day Finnegan stopped by she spotted Pittsburgh Mercy Health System picking up bricks.
It will use them to make gardens, which clients will design themselves as part of their therapy.
"They were originally fire brick, then repurposed into a retaining wall and now are going to get to repurpose them again,” said Construction Junction employee Terry Wiles.
“Perfect! We can definitely utilize them," said Benjamin Bishop of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System.
Construction Junction doesn't just give materials new life.
It offers people a new chance.
”I was enrolled at Geneva College and unfortunately I broke my ankle and I had to leave on medical condition,” explained employee Gerard Doswell-Hardric.
They partner with Goodwill to provide jobs for their clients.
“Many of them have ended up being employed by us. Actually 20 percent of our workforce has come to us from the Goodwill programming,” said Knott.
Construction Junction was just honored this month with its second Power of Work Award from Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania.