Wehrung’s Cares has donated $5,000 in store credit to the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology (MBIT) to purchase cordless power tools.
The credit can be used to buy equipment at any Wehrung’s Lumber & Home Center locations in Ottsville, Chalfont, Collegeville, or Macungie.
The new partnership with MBIT in Jamison provides Wehrung’s Cares with a route to invest in the next generation of construction trades professionals. Wehrung’s Cares is a nonprofit division of Wehrung’s Family of Businesses.
Michael Sykes, MBIT building trades occupations instructor, said the donation goal is to purchase battery operated tools for students in construction trades programs to help them prepare for construction industry jobs.
“A large percentage of contractors have already moved to cordless tools,” Sykes said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Washington, D.C. is moving away from allowing construction tools reliant on electric cords to operate on job sites, according to Sykes.
“OSHA has been working hard to eliminate corded tools on job sites because of trip and fall hazards. Buying all cordless tools and giving our students practical real world experience in how to use, care for and maintain their tools” will be valuable to their professional careers, Sykes said.
“We are hoping to establish a continuing relationship with MBIT and provide opportunities for the students to visit our store and manufacturing plant to see the many ways their education can be applied in the construction industry,” said Kim Wehrung, Wehrung’s Cares public ambassador.
“We can take our students on site visits and show them real world applications and to speak to those working in the field,” he added.
Associated Builders and Contractors.org reported in February, 2023, an estimated skilled trades worker shortage of about 546,000 workers would be needed to meet construction sector labor demands.
In 2020, during the beginning of coronavirus pandemic, Wehrung’s Cares formalized its community service and engagement.
“In 2023 Wehrung’s Cares was proud to support over 120 different community organizations,” Wehrung said.
Wehrung’s Family of Businesses located in Bucks, Montgomery and Lehigh counties are also able to provide special pricing on certain products for nonprofit organizations.
Wehrung’s Cares was founded to continue the legacy of community outreach began by Wehrung’s founders Blanche and Woody Wehrung more than 75 years ago. Jean and Vernon Wehrung were the second generation to own and operate the company.
Today’s third and fourth generations of Wehrung’s family members lead by Woody’s grandson Jason Wehrung continue the community engagement and service legacy regarded as pillars of the company’s mission.
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