CATEC's Carpentry program is the fortunate recipient of thousands of dollars’ worth of usable lumber, courtesy of Better Living Building Supply.
CATEC programs pride themselves on their community partnerships, which provide them much needed project supplies throughout the school year. Over the course of the last few weeks, CATEC’s Carpentry program has received 19 hacks of 2x4s and 2x6s of varying lengths from Better Living Building Supply. The newly acquired lumber will give Carpentry students opportunities to build many projects that align with program competencies. Carpentry instructor Darrell Morris says, “Students will be able work on projects from small to large, including cornhole boards, small furniture, and sheds. We could potentially craft hundreds of sheds with the product we’ve had donated.” In summer 2023, the Carpentry program was awarded a $5,000 Shannon Foundation Grant to purchase a state-of-the-art band saw. Students will be able to use the donated lumber, working with the band saw, to build their projects.
CATEC Principal Stacey Heltz says CATEC’s community partnerships play an essential role that positively impacts CATEC students’ opportunities. She says, “Our students get great exposure and learning experiences, due in large part, to our relationships with our local partners. We are grateful for Better Living’s donation to our programs.”
Better Living Building Supply was founded in 1893 as Charlottesville Lumber. Today the family business has grown to three locations, including a custom mill shop, and the largest delivery system in Central Virginia.