Community Steps Up to Support Woodshop Class

This fall, Kingsley woodshop teacher Scott Morey put out a plea to the community: we need donations to keep the class free or low-cost for students. 

The industrial arts elective was in desperate need of supplies - chiefly lumber - for students to continue their projects. 

A Facebook post asking the community for donations was shared more than 200 times, reaching more than 20,000 people. 

The response was immediate and overwhelming: Mr. Morey was inundated with calls, voicemails, texts, emails from people interested in lending a hand. 

Suddenly, community members and businesses started arriving with truckloads of lumber and tools. Then, the problem became finding a place to put it all. 

“It’s been amazing. It’s a great feeling to know that parents, the community, and local businesses are so supportive of our kids,” said Mr. Morey. “We are getting the program to where we need it to be.”

Mr. Morey is still accepting small power tool donations and gift cards to Menards, where the district has a tax-exempt account. 

“I am so appreciative for the community’s support of this class. Woodshop is such an important class -- we all know there’s a huge deficit in the trades. Some may go into that field, but even if they’re not, those skills are important in life, like when they become homeowners. It helps with critical thinking and problem solving. Thank you again to all of our donors.”

Larry Mikowski - Weekes Forest Products

Chuck Barnhart - Blue Star Framing

Tim VanWingerden - Dovetail Custom Cabinetry

Justin Cecil- Matrix Evolutions

Coty Rider - BCTGM Local 81

Jake Frye - Frye Custom Works 

Maeda Schroeder - Walton Contracting

Jeremy Gibson- Professional Woodworker

Tom Regemold - Great Lakes Athourity

Matt & Nikki Indish - MI Homes North Inspections

Kim Connett - Prestin Feather

Tracy Somers - Dan Brady Painting

Megan Sullivan - Sherwin Williams Chums Corners

Archangel Gabriel Greek Orthodox Church Philoptochos Society

Kegan Coger

Robert Voice

James Boonstra

Amanda Wagner 

Marie Socha

Ron Clous

Brianna Youker

Krissy Yetter

Jerry Hesch

Karen Pack - In Memory of John Pack