A Build for the Better

Youth from grades six to twelve came together to build picnic tables for Habitat for Humanity.

Shelby Chasser, Editor in Chief
February 14, 2019

For the past fifteen years, adult volunteers and youth members of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church have gathered in the parking lot in order to build picnic tables for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. This year, workers crafted tables outside in below freezing weather. The build ran for two sessions with a lunch break in between, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m..

Andrew Wiley
Senior Danielle Gonyeau, Scott Wiley and Vic Marone are gathering around a campfire, trying to stay warm. On the day of the build, the weather was at a low of 16 degrees Fahrenheit according to Accuweather.com. “It makes the local youth aware that there is a local need such as the local Habitat for Humanity, and it prepares them to do mission work in the future with their hands,” Wiley said.

Together the group of workers built twenty-eight tables, and all except for three tables were donated to the local Habitat center where they will either be put in a Habitat Restore or donated to Habitat homeowners. The three remaining tables will be brought on Woodswork in the summer, a youth mission trip through Woods church that partners with Habitat for Humanity in order to help build houses.

Many SPHS students partake in this yearly project. Senior Danielle Gonyeau has been participating in this project ever since sixth grade. “I enjoy seeing everyone, both youth and adults, come together every year to help give back to our community,” Gonyeau said.

Andrew Wiley
Senior Lee and senior Melanie Reynolds are building a table top for one of the twenty-eight tables. Previously, Lee has participated in the build twice before, and this was Reynolds first year participating. “Even though it was cold in the morning, we had donuts, coffee and bonfires to keep us warm while we hung out and built tables together,” Lee said.

In addition to the bonds people create in this project, it is a great way to help give back to the community. “I really like the feeling of accomplishment you get from actually building something that you know will have an impact on others, rather than just giving money or something [like that],” sophomore Claire Kintzley said, “It’s a chance to give back to the community in a unique way.”

Aaron Kent, the committee-chair of Woodswork, has been participating in this project since his freshman year, and believes that the idea itself is valuable. “This building shows people how they can influence others in a community and shows that they can actually make a difference,” Kent said.

Andrew Wiley
Senior Melanie Reynolds, sophomore Claire Kintzley and senior Gavin Ivey are building the legs for one of the picnic tables. The twenty-eight tables were built in a six hour time frame on the Saturday, Feb. 2. “The build is great for our community in that it brings different people who care about the same thing together,” Kintzley said.

Woods Memorial Presbyterian church is on a mission to help others in need. This picnic table is just one of many projects and missions the church offers for the youth in our community. “This project does not have to be just picnic tables.  There are various ways the people and youth of the community can get involved to help take care of the community and those in need within the community,” the organizer of the picnic table build Scott Wiley said.