Most everyone is aware that in the last few years school budgets have been severely slashed. What I did not realize was that important programs were at risk of being eliminated altogether due to these budget cuts. Recently I was talking to Jason Craig, a member of LBF and a teacher of Industrial Arts at Upland Junior High School. During our conversation he told me of the concerns he had for his Project Lead the Way (wood shop). He was concerned about a lack of funding to purchase the needed materials for his students to continue to learn valuable skills in his class. After our conversation, I discussed the idea of taking on this challenge as part of our “Love in Action” initiative with Pastor Gary.
We started by identifying the current needs. Then we talked to local businesses to see what they could do to help. God quickly changed our direction when I received a phone call from a friend who had heard of the needs of Project Lead the Way and invited us to attend a local scroll saw club meeting for The Inland Empire Scrollers Association. We went and knew at once that we were in the right place. The scroll saw club immediately stepped up with kindness and generosity to Project Lead the Way. Each month donations are made on behalf of the club to the Upland Junior High School shop program, in the form of tools and materials. And because of these donations, the program will not be eliminated. Praise the Lord!
In addition to the wood donated by the local scroll saw club, our own “Love in Action” program was able to help with the donation of a nearly brand new band saw to Project Lead the Way. This $1,600 piece of equipment would never have been purchased with the current state of financial distress within the state and school district. We are also currently working to facilitate the donation of two wood lathes and additional materials, including hand tools, adhesives, hardware, and the wood needed for the projects.
Classroom budgets have been affected so drastically that both teachers and students are in jeopardy. It is vital that shop programs like Project Lead the Way continue for students to learn various skills in addition to the basic subjects. And we’re pleased that through “Love in Action,” the students at Upland Junior High can further their educational development.
But wait! It gets better. I recently learned that the students of Project Lead the Way used some of the donated materials to design and build more than 600 wooden toys, which they gave to programs that distribute them to underprivileged kids, such as Healthy Start-Upland, Spark of Love (ABC 7), Fontana Police Department, Mission Agua de Vida in Morelos, Mexico, as well as six additional missions throughout the Los Angeles area.
Under the leadership of Pam Chavira, their new principal at UJH, these students are studying the Seven Essential Virtues of Moral Intelligence (which are empathy, conscience, self control, respect, kindness, tolerance, and fairness) by Michele Borba. This project was one way for them to implement what they learned.
Thank you to The Inland Empire Scrollers Association for their generosity and contributions to Project Lead the Way. This journey of putting “Love in Action” is exciting and ongoing. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
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