A Feel-Good Woodworking Project for Schools

A few months ago I was asked if the WOOD(r) magazine staff would be interested in contributing its collective woodworking talents to help spruce up the hallways and classrooms of a local nonprofit day-care facility. The cause sounded worthwhile, so I got together with the facility's director who cited a need for frames to hold the children's artwork. But, as I quickly learned, these frames have special requirements. First, they had to be big enough to hold multiple pieces of art. The frames require a protective acrylic cover that removes easily for changing the artwork. And the frames must be positioned at the eye level of a 3- or 4-year-old child. One more thing, we needed to build 26 of them.

With that mind, Kevin Boyle, our senior design editor, drew up plans for the simple 31x48" maple frame shown above right and in the PDF illustration which can be downloaded using the link below.

Next, staff members got together to mass produce the frames during a few quick work sessions in the WOOD magazine shop. It was a great experience building and installing the frames, and then seeing the children taking great pride in their artwork on display.

We invite you to use our plan for your personal use or to do as we did and build them for some deserving young ones in your area.

Bill Krier Editor in Chief