At the New England Carpenters Training Center on Dorchester Avenue on Saturday morning, Gilbane Co. construction workers were hard at work sawing, sanding, and assembling some 40 wooden desks that will be donated in support of after-school programs at Mather Elementary School and the Church of the Nazarene in Dorchester.

Gilbane, which has partnered with Rebuilding Together since its inception 30 years ago, dispatched around 20 workers to the project after the Carpenters union offered its space as a staging area. 

“Each year we work together to do at least one project in partnership with Rebuilding Together,” said Derek Ullman, a project manager at Gilbane. “This year we couldn’t go into people’s homes to renovate because of Covid, but we said, ‘Let’s do something.’” Added Steve Duvel, senior vice president at Gilbane: “We’re happy to be involved; this is what Gilbane is about: giving back to the community.”