Brookfield High School student Leah Wlodarski drills holes in lumber as part of a project to make bed frames for Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
Brookfield High School’s home improvement class is designed to introduce students to woodworking tools and maybe get them interested in the higher-level building trades classes the school also offers.
The school also has found a way to steer the class into community service.
Students are making bed frames for Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s Trumbull County chapter. Sleep in Heavenly Peace shepherds volunteers to build and assemble bunk beds for children and families in need.
High school guidance counselor Lynn Pegg learned about the program and worked out the details, said Ken Iser, who teaches the class with Adam Hughes.
Brian Smith cuts lumber that will be used in making bed frames for Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s Trumbull County chapter.
Starting with virgin lumber, the students measured, cut, sanded, drilled and screwed together the components, and then stained them. They made 10 bed frames last fall and another 10 this winter and spring. Once the components were built, the students went into the homes of the receiving families to assemble them, the last time on March 24.
“I think it’s nice we’re able to do stuff for our community,” said senior Brian Smith. “I think if we took them home they wouldn’t be used. I’m glad somebody gets use out of it.”
“It’s definitely rewarding to know that you’re helping others and building things to make good in the world,” said senior Lillie Toth.
Iser said he enjoys seeing the commitment the students have to building the bed frames.
“They pay more attention to detail,” he said. “They pay more attention to what they’re doing because they know it’s gonna be for someone else.”
Hunter Hoskin uses an impact driver to attach pieces of bed frame in his Brookfield High School home improvement class. Also shown are Alyvia Carpec, right, and Makayla Plato.
The project also allows the students to apply the skills they have learned to a real-world situation, Iser said.
“It’s rewarding for us,” he said. “It’s rewarding for them, too.”
Iser said he would like to continue the partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, but also expand the concept of students serving the community.
“I would like to try and do some kind of outreach program,” he said. “We might be able to do it right here in Brookfield. We may not have to leave this community to make an impact on people outside of this community.”
@ @ @
Please help support NEWS On the Green’s work:
Click here: http://news-on-the-green.fundjournalism.org/news-on-the-green-page-1
