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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
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September 2004 |
Manor men build desks for Operation Classroom
By Janis Thornton
FRANKFORT, Ind. - The woodworking shop in Wesley Manor's basement has been turned into a temporary center for mass-producing classroom desks.
Several of the manor's residents have combined their carpentry skills to prefabricate components for 16 desks destined for classrooms in Sierra Leone, North Africa.
The effort is a project of Operation Classroom, sponsored by the Indiana Area of The United Methodist and based in Lapel, Ind., to upgrade the educational system in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Don Pershing realized that need for desks when he journeyed to the war-torn county in January 2003 as part of an OC missions outreach effort.
Obtaining a sample desk from OC's warehouse in Lapel and a set of plans a couple of months ago, Pershing was joined recently by three of them - the Rev. Bill Valentine, Howard "Buzz" Hoehn and Paul Black. Each contributed his own area of expertise.
"Some of them cut the parts from templates," Pershing said. "Some drill holes, some cut lumber at angles and others assemble."
Hoehn said the project provided him a way to use this spare time for a good purpose.
"It's been a way to utilizing time, which I have plenty of," he said, "and might I say 'constructively.'"
Valentine, a former pastor at St. Matthew UMC, said making the desks offered "a good chance to make a contribution."
Paul Black, who keeps the manor's carpentry shop in good order, also expressed his reason for involvement.
"Because it's a United Methodist mission project, I feel it's important," Black said. "I am a member of the United Methodist Church, and it's nice to pitch in and help."
Each desk will seat two students and costs about $35 in materials, Pershing said.
"We got donations from manor residents to pay for supplies and help with shipping," he said.
The men build the desks in sections. Then top and seat units, accompanied by the legs, hardware and instructions for assembly, will be shipped to Sierra Leone for finishing.
"And so far," said Hoehn, laughing, "we haven't cut off any fingers."
Janis Thornton is a staff writer for Frankfort's The Times.
Used by permission.
Last updated on 08/24/2004