Volunteers from the Workplace Essential Skills (WES) Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Program, from Kingsclear and Oromocto First Nations, New Brunswick, raised money and adapted toys for children at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

The volunteers are part of a 40-week program through the Carpenter Millwright College of New Brunswick where they are learning a variety of skills to prepare them for a career in carpentry, and initially, they were approached by Makers Making Change, a Neil Squire program, to do a build event adapting toys previously purchased for children with disabilities.

However, the students wanted to take it one step further, raffling off three picnic tables they built in their class to raise $2,670 to purchase even more toys and switches for the kids.

During National AccessAbility Week, the carpenters-in-training adapted 52 toys in their first build event.

“We’re happy and proud to be a part of it — it’s huge to alter these toys for the kids!” Brent Sacobie, from Kingsclear First Nation, told CBC (new window).

The donated toys will provide children with disabilities at the IWK Health Centre toys that they can keep without the financial burden of paying for a switch adapted toy.

“Nothing in the world beats seeing a kid smile and laugh, and it means the world to make another kid happy,” Ethan Paul, 21, one of two carpenters-in-training from Oromocto First Nation, told CBC.

Makers Making Change will insert a card in each toy donated, with a group picture of the volunteers who were responsible for adapting the toy, and the story behind the build for every family that receives a toy from this project.

With money remaining from their raffles, the carpenters-in-training will adapt over 40 more toys during a future build event.

“We are very proud of the class for taking the initiative and wanting to change the lives of children, leading change in their communities!” says WES Program Officer Manon Daneau.