Annual Kids' Woodworking Day held

"I believe we're created in God's image, and God is a creator, and we're meant to be creators as well," said Levi King, chief operating officer with Quarry View Building Group. "Things like (Kids' Woodworking Day) can bring that out."

Levi and his brother, Ben, who is president of Quarry View, began holding Kids' Woodworking Day in 2018, when the organization partnered with Way of Jesus Academy through a board member of the academy whom they knew. The event invites area children to work with Quarry View employees and volunteers to create a woodworking project they can take home. This year, Quarry View partnered with The Factory Ministries to invite area children to participate at Quarry View's headquarters on a former farm at 2603 Lincoln Highway East, Ronks, that the company remodeled and opened a year ago.

Adam Nagle, executive director with The Factory Ministries, said that Quarry View representatives reached out about a partnership for this year's event. "I stopped in, got a tour, and Levi cast their vision for the day," recalled Nagle, who added that the idea was interesting to him because it "dove tailed well with our heart (at The Factory)." "We loved the opportunity that (Kids' Woodworking Day) gave for young people to gain exposure to tools and a trade they would not normally have," Nagle said.

The Factory promoted the day to participants, and nearly 30 signed up to visit when the day was held on Dec. 23 from noon to 4 p.m. The timing right before Christmas has traditionally worked well because children are generally not in school.

Employee Paul Beiler, whom Ben referred to as a master craftsman, devised a game box for the children to create. "It's 2 inches thick and 10 by 10 inches (wide)," explained Beiler, who brought together all the necessary pieces for the children to assemble while working with an adult. The box holds checkers-like pieces the children cut from doweling using a handsaw. Wafers of sapele wood and white pine were available for the children to glue to the top of the box to create a checkerboard pattern. "On the bottom side, they can draw with a woodburning tool or write their names," said Beiler, who also made sure craft paint was available for participants who wished to paint on the back or the edges.

Levi explained that he and Ben organize Woodworking Day to give area students a chance to build in the way they did as children. "From a young age, we had opportunities to create things in the shop," he said. "You never know if this one opportunity to create something they feel proud of might spark something in them."

Ben explained that there is a need for skilled tradespeople in the building field. "It's something we care about as a core value," he stated. "We desire to have a pipeline of young people who care about this type of construction and are educated in this kind of construction." He noted that the program attracts elementary school students and that the hope is that by introducing the children at a young age, they may find a lifelong passion for the craft. "If they have a gift for (woodworking) or an interest in it, then that can be developed early," he said.

In addition to introducing youngsters to woodworking, the brothers sought to share their love of country during the holiday season. "We are retiring a flag as part of (the event)," explained Ben, who noted that the holidays can be hard on people who have lost a loved one. One of Quarry View's employees lost a nephew a few years back, and the organization chose to honor that nephew - Danny Delbianco - by retiring the 10-by-15-foot flag flying in front of the business and dedicating it to him. A special triangular box with the Navy veteran's name was constructed by Quarry View employees to hold the retired flag. "We have a love of country we like to instill into people we have influence with," said Ben.

Members of the gathering lowered the flag to be retired and brought it into the shop area to fold it. As the flag was folded, Ben explained that each of the 13 folds has meaning. "The first fold is symbolic of life," he stated, noting that other folds symbolize eternal life, the sacrifice of veterans, a tribute to our country and the armed forces, and more. When the flag was folded, it was placed into the box to be given to the Quarry View employee. Ben concluded the ceremony by recognizing veterans who were present. "We appreciate our veterans. Thank you to all veterans," he said. Ben then offered a short prayer asking for blessings for each person there, noting the eternal gift of the Christmas season, and asking that the time working on projects be safe and focused.

More information about The Factory and its programs may be found at https://thefactoryministries.com.

Readers who wish to learn more about Quarry View may visit https://quarryviewbuildinggroup.com.