Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Receives Recyclable Desks
October 21, 2020
100 Corrugated desks donated by PCA provide the proper study environment for the Clubs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 19, 2020 (HARRISONBURG, VA) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (BGCHR) received close to 100 desks made of corrugated cardboard. These desks are being used by Club members while Boys & Girls Clubs serve as academic support centers for school-aged youth in the City and County.
The donated desks are an example of collaboration and creativity. Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) found the desk design desks and donated their designers’ time and the materials to make close to 100 desks. Assembly of the desks was donated by Friendship Industries/Able Solutions.
The idea for the desks came about as the academic year approached and the Boys and Girls Club was looking at extending their academic service for their members during this time of virtual learning. Boys & Girls Club has four Clubs currently open for youth Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. Three of the four Clubs are located in schools where desks are commonplace. However, the city Club is located in the multipurpose Lucy Simms Center. Executive Director Sandra Quigg wanted the children at Simms Club to have desks in order to provide the right environment to focus and to maintain social distancing. The challenge was BGCHR had neither money budgeted nor storage available for desks. The idea of temporary, disposal desks was born as Ms. Quigg was expressing the situation to a friend.
Sandra reached out to former BGCHR Board member and PCA’s Sales Manager, Bob Reifsteck, who stated he had seen something like this on the internet. PCA immediately adopted the idea and donated staff talents and company materials. Sandra then contacted Friendship Industries’ Piete Casius, Director of Operations, to ask what he thought about assembling 100 desks. Mr. Casius enthusiastically offered the agency’s work free of charge. The desks are now in use at Simms and some will be distributed to the other Clubs. And, when the desks are done serving their purpose, they can be recycled.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County
For 25 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County has provided afterschool and summer camp programs for local youth. Chartered in 1995, Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County offers children a safe place to learn and grow, have ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, experience life-enhancing programs, and create character/citizenship development. The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Photo Credit: Bob Adamek, HCPS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 19, 2020 (HARRISONBURG, VA) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (BGCHR) received close to 100 desks made of corrugated cardboard. These desks are being used by Club members while Boys & Girls Clubs serve as academic support centers for school-aged youth in the City and County.
The donated desks are an example of collaboration and creativity. Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) found the desk design desks and donated their designers’ time and the materials to make close to 100 desks. Assembly of the desks was donated by Friendship Industries/Able Solutions.
The idea for the desks came about as the academic year approached and the Boys and Girls Club was looking at extending their academic service for their members during this time of virtual learning. Boys & Girls Club has four Clubs currently open for youth Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. Three of the four Clubs are located in schools where desks are commonplace. However, the city Club is located in the multipurpose Lucy Simms Center. Executive Director Sandra Quigg wanted the children at Simms Club to have desks in order to provide the right environment to focus and to maintain social distancing. The challenge was BGCHR had neither money budgeted nor storage available for desks. The idea of temporary, disposal desks was born as Ms. Quigg was expressing the situation to a friend.
Sandra reached out to former BGCHR Board member and PCA’s Sales Manager, Bob Reifsteck, who stated he had seen something like this on the internet. PCA immediately adopted the idea and donated staff talents and company materials. Sandra then contacted Friendship Industries’ Piete Casius, Director of Operations, to ask what he thought about assembling 100 desks. Mr. Casius enthusiastically offered the agency’s work free of charge. The desks are now in use at Simms and some will be distributed to the other Clubs. And, when the desks are done serving their purpose, they can be recycled.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County
For 25 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County has provided afterschool and summer camp programs for local youth. Chartered in 1995, Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County offers children a safe place to learn and grow, have ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, experience life-enhancing programs, and create character/citizenship development. The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Photo Credit: Bob Adamek, HCPS
