ALIQUIPPA -- Valerie McElvy took one look at the shower doors and it was as clear as glass what could be done.



Her mind is an idea incubator. She has the imagination; once a seed is planted, look out. All she needs now are people to execute her plan.



That plan is to plant seeds and harvest vegetables in a greenhouse constructed from those shower doors -- at least 75 of them -- that have been stored in a building owned by the Franklin Center of Beaver County in Aliquippa, which formerly housed a G.C. Murphy Co. store.



The Franklin Center provides human services and outreach and referral to low-income and unemployed county residents, while also offering volunteer opportunities for all ages.



McElvy is the center�s property manager and also director of Serving U Beaver County, its volunteer unit.



She discovered the doors when space in the building was being cleared for another center project.



�Home Depot had a program five to 10 years ago,� McElvy said, in which the home improvement retailer donated materials and supplies to nonprofits, such as the Franklin Center, as part of its giving back mission.



The only stipulation, she said, was that the items could not be sold to make a profit.



She hopes to construct a greenhouse that would operate year-round on vacant, center-owned property between the former G.C. Murphy and apartment buildings at 464 and 488 Franklin Avenue.



�People have built things with less,� she said.



The structure could snug nicely into an approximately 30x22-foot space already bordered by three existing brick walls that could be incorporated.



The earthen ground could be covered with gravel to make a floor, but the ultimate would be a cement foundation, if a generous benefactor would come forth, she said.



�A slab would be perfect.�



McElvy said she�s seen similar structures built from re-purposed materials, but �I don�t know how to put it together,� adding that she needs �an engineer to look at what I have and see how it will work.�



A greenhouse -- one that would yield fresh herbs and vegetables -- would complement the center�s soup kitchen, she said.



Every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m., the center sponsors Soup on the Avenue at its Broadcast Street Caf�. Stock made from homegrown produce would go a long way in helping to feed the hungry. Harvest from the greenhouse could be donated to the needy.



Tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and herbs are just a few of the things she would start with.



�Things that are easy to grow, easy to incorporate,� she said.



She would tap serving U Beaver County volunteers and people fulfilling community service obligations to maintain the greenhouse and its crops.



�My community service people are very anxious to give back,� McElvy said.



Ideally, she�d like to have the greenhouse built and yielding produce by Thanksgiving -- �a celebration time.�



Anyone interested in supporting the project through donations of money, materials, engineering skills, labor and construction should contact McElvy at 724-378-7547.