Agawam Lions Club builds student desks
Chris DiMauro's daughter prepares for distance learning at the family table every morning, but at dinner time, the third-grade student has to put everything away. The family lives in a small house, and she has no other place to take family lessons during the pandemic.
Her father explained: "This is difficult because she will be working on a school project, and we want to write things down so that we can have dinner together." "She is sad because that is her working space."
For students in western Massachusetts, finding enough learning space has always been a challenge. Some people connect to the virtual classroom on the kitchen table, countertop or sitting on their own bed because
The real thing has been closed.
Cheryl Terramagra tried to buy a table for her 8-year-old son online, but it was expensive and there was a two-month delay in delivery. The family came up with this idea and proposed their own solution.
She explained: "My father saw a round kitchen table and we screwed it to the wall." "We repaired it, and our son is using it as a working space in the living room."
In some families, parents and their children huddle together, trying to find and share space when they work and study online. Agawam Lions Club is equipped with premium desks, so they will step up to build wooden desks for any students who need Agawam Public School.
"This is a difficult time for children. We want to build a life raft for them so that they can have a normal life. This is just something for you, something you can control. This is your desk," Agawam Lions Club member DiMauro said.
By the end of December, the club had requested nearly 200 desks. Some club members have been making them in their home workshops. Westfield's Home Depot has been providing wood to the club at a lower price, but when funds began to run short, the club was waiting for direct donations from the company. This week in the form of $1,500 worth of wood, screws and sealant, enough to build 150 desks.
Club members said that funding for more desks remains a challenge. The desks are not big in size and style, but they have become a special place for students who lack classrooms and classmates. The first distribution took place yesterday, with about 80 desks distributed to families.
"A desk is just a tool. When you have the right tools in your toolkit, everyone will feel more prepared, less anxious, and ready to do the job at any time." said Terramagra, who is also the desk project club a member of. "Have a dedicated space to put the control element back in your courtroom. I saw it with the kids."
Members of the Lions Club are making desks as soon as possible. The only thing that hinders progress is stable cash flow to support their efforts. At least one member should pay for the materials out of his own pocket. The club also uses limited funds specifically to help children.
"We will not leave any children behind," DiMauro said. "Every child who wants a desk will have a desk specially designed for them. We will not stop building the desk until the order stops."
Lions clubs accept donations on their website,
.
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