With hammer and saw, students from William E. Hay Composite High School's carpentry classes are working together to help the residents at Heart Haven Lodge.
On Tuesday, May 26, students headed out to the seniors' residence to begin framing work on a new shed they are building to house the residents' scooters.
"We have an increase in the number of residents who have scooters," Carol Dyck, the lodge's manager, explained. "I think we have eight now. In the past, (residents) have just parked in front, but we have too many now and they're in the way."
With limited funds but a need to safely secure the scooters, the lodge reached out to the high school in hopes the carpentry students would be able to help.
Earlier in the year, the students build other sheds at the residence, and teacher Gord Goodrich was ready to step in with his classes once again – even though this late in the year it's a little trickier with the end of the school year looming on the horizon.
For student MacGregor Clark, though, giving back to the community is important.
"I like the involvement in the community, helping out and making our home look nice," he said.
The Grade 12 student is returning next year for a semester to finish acquiring the necessary credits, a shortfall he attributes to "goofing off" in Grade 10.
"Projects like this give us hands-on experience and a good grip on what it's going to be like after we graduate," he noted.