Riverside students build harvest tables for Habitat homes

To finish off their school year, grade 7/8 students from Riverside Public School used real-life math and science skills to build harvest tables for local families in need.

It’s not the first time Riverside students have embarked on such a project. Each year, the school’s intermediate students alternate between building standing work stations for use in the school and harvest tables to donate to a local charity. Students have to design, plan, price, and build the projects.

“We work with local carpenters who volunteer their time to help our students learn the trade and build and finish these tables,” said teacher and organizer Katie Pellerin. “This is one of those life-changing experiences for students. They will forever remember the experience of building for the community and doing something that will make others happy.”

On May 10, the students built harvest tables for Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North’s new homes. Over the past few weeks they sanded, stained, and polished their tables and on June 28 they were donated.

“This is the fifth year of our construction project and each year it is demonstrated that students learn best when they can apply their learning,” said Pellerin. “They learn how to read fractions off a tape measure, price materials, calculate tax, and make presentation proposals. Most importantly, they learn the power of doing something for others.”

Fifty-four kids participated in the project and students were grouped into construction teams.

Students wrote letters to local businesses in order to obtain materials such as stain, sandpaper, and tools.

Businesses including High Rock Construction and Muskoka Split Rock donated their time to teach the trade to students and Muskoka Lumber gave the teams discounts on lumber.

Riverside Public School students (from left) Liam McTavish, Jeffrey Waller, Riley Knox, Wil Varco, and Austin Culp select lumber for a harvest table

“The response was overwhelming,” said Pellerin. “The volunteers at Habitat were so grateful and we know these tables will find their way into the homes of local families. Students felt like their efforts had an impact and that their efforts have made a positive contribution to their local community. This project continues to grow, each year we get more volunteers for build day, and more local businesses contributing to the project.”

Although this annual project is funded by the students’ fundraising efforts, Pellerin says that additional support is greatly appreciated for years to come.

“Our 7/8s have lots of events to fund like graduation and year-end trips. Alleviating some of the cost of this project would allow us to allocate funds to other events, reducing the cost for some of our own families,” said Pellerin.

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