Pennsylvania HBA Gives the Gift of Learning to Local Community
The Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties created a series of Pop-Up Lending Library (PULL) stations throughout the Coatesville area in Pennsylvania to help provide literature for underserved children. The project was part of a larger campaign by Arts Holding Hands and Hearts (AHHAH), a Chester County-based charity with which the HBA collaborated, and was inspired by a similar project in New Jersey that caught the eye of Carrie Sullivan, marketing manager at Pohlig Homes. Sullivan and Francine Dague with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox and Roach REALTORS are co-chairs of the HBA's Sales & Marketing Council (SMC), which served as point on the project.
Eight initial PULL stations were built by members, including Nave Newell, Inc., Tague Lumber, Pohlig Homes, and HBA Executive Director Lauren Adams and her husband, Cameron. AHHAH helped connect the HBA with other participants, including a local Girl Scout who created the manual to put the PULL stations together and local artists to paint the assembled stations before installation.
"We let the artists choose the theme," Sullivan explained. "Everyone understood they'd be in schools and playgrounds, and had to be children-centric."
Three of the PULL stations were painted by the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District High School advanced arts program; one by Patty Stanish, wife of a local architect; and another by Deborah Ward, art teacher at West Bradford Elementary School.
In addition to their whimsical themes, the PULL stations each contained copies of The House That SHE Built to help jumpstart the library.
"It was a fun day of going to the various locations in Coatesville," Sullivan recalled. "It was pretty magical. Kids were asking what we were doing. It was neat that so many people were enjoying these on so many different levels."
"It was a great way to get out of COVID and get back into the practice of giving back," she added.
Adams noted that the project is ongoing, with plans still available on the HBA website. Visit builderpa.com to learn more.
Latest from NAHBNow
Workforce Development
Apr 17, 2026
9 NHE Grants Boost Residential Construction VisibilityThe National Housing Endowment (NHE), NAHB's philanthropic arm, created its Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP) to increase the number of qualified graduates entering the home building industry. Since 2009, HELP has invested more than $6.2 million in grants to 60 colleges and universities.
Economics
Apr 16, 2026
Iran War Adds to Economic HeadwindsA multidimensional supply shock is weakening the U.S. economy, fueled by the delayed effects of the 2025 trade wars and tariffs, elevated oil prices, and persistent policy uncertainty. NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz provides a high-level summary of key economic markers.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 17, 2026
Count of Second Homes Declines in 2024In 2024, the number of second homes in the U.S. was 6.2 million, accounting for 4.3% of the nation’s housing stock, according to NAHB estimates. This reflects a modest decline from 2022, when the number reached 6.5 million. This decline suggests some cooling following the pandemic-era surge in second home demand.
Economics
Apr 16, 2026
Young Adults Report More Interest in the Construction Trades: 2026 SurveyNAHB estimates the U.S. has a structural housing deficit of 1.2 million units. Among the myriad of headwinds home builders face trying to close that gap is the industry’s chronic shortage of workers in the construction trades.
Economics
Apr 15, 2026
Builder Sentiment Posts Notable Decline on Economic UncertaintyEconomic uncertainty coupled with rising building material costs and interest rates resulted in a sharp decline in builder sentiment in April as the housing market enters into the heart of the spring buying season.