Bowden Institution inmates are putting their carpentry skills towards a good cause.
Students in the prison’s pre-employment carpentry program have donated handiwork including Adirondack chairs and coffee tables to Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
ReStore is a retail location where new and gently used donated goods are accepted and then resold to the public at a discounted price with the proceeds going to Habitat’s operations and affordable home ownership program.
“They just really are beautiful pieces. We are so blessed to have had them reach out to us about this. What an incredible program”said Kathy Pipes, ReStore director of operations.
Bowden’s eight-week pre-employment program teaches skills that are transferable into the carpentry, cabinetry, and finish carpentry trades. The course also has a theoretical component from NAIT that is based on the courses that a first year apprentice would take, with the students then spending the remainder of their day in the shop learning to read blueprints, cut, and assemble their projects.
“Many of the inmates who are incarcerated do not have the skills to land a job upon release,” said Robert Couture, program instructor at Bowden Institution.
“If a student decides to continue, they can indenture under myself or another instructor to start their apprenticeship while incarcerated. Some of my former students have even gone on to become journeyman carpenter,” said Couture.
“It really is a wonderful story to tell; the fact that we are able to do some positive for the community while teaching the inmates new skills.”
The donated pieces can be found at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, located at 4732 78A Close in North Red Deer.
Habitat for Humanity Red Deer Region builds homes in partnership with qualifying low-income, working families through a no-down-payment, interest-free mortgage program. Active in Central Alberta since 1994, Habitat has now built 42 homes in the area.