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An auto dealership is not the first place that comes to mind as a source for school desks.
Yet when Tim Mort, general manager of Freeway Chevrolet in West Chandler, heard about a local man building free, high-quality desks for students who didn’t have a proper work station at home, Mort was moved to do something.
“My kids, fortunately, they each have a desk in their bedroom so they’ve got a nice setup,” Mort said. “I know that’s not always feasible for everybody. We know a lot of people who are struggling with school, work space, a place to do your homework and put your books —a place just to concentrate and focus.
“That’s why we thought it was such a great idea.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of students were forced to take virtual classes from home. Not every home is equipped with or has the means to purchase a desk for the schoolkids. Mort said that when he saw a video of Steve Weinberg building desks to give away to students in need, he offered Freeway Chevrolet’s help.
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“He told me all about what he was doing and why he was doing it and it was fantastic,” Mort said. “I said if you’re looking for a sponsor, I think we’d like to get involved with this.”
The dealership paid for all the building materials to construct 30 desks – the equivalent of an entire classroom. With lumber prices having shot up 250 percent over the last year, it was no small investment.
“We’re always looking for a way to give back to the community in a positive way,” Mort said.
Weinberg said he’s “always looking for projects” and liked the fact that he could combine his woodworking hobby with providing a service.
He’s built 120 desks.
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Brian Lockwood, a principal in the Roosevelt School District, was on hand at Freeway Chevrolet on May 18 to receive donated desks.
“The students who receive these desks will now have a space to work in at home if they selected our virtual-learning program for next year,” Lockwood said. “It will mean a great deal to them to have a space to work in other than their beds, tables or laps.”
Tiffany Hughes, lead Roosevelt School District social worker and a social worker at V.H. Lassen Elementary School, added that she has seen “a lot of families with multiple students in one space because that’s their only area to work.”