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A team of Corrales woodworkers has built small, student desks for children trying to learn at home during the pandemic. Ben Blackwell said he was inspired to start such an effort here after seeing a CBS Evening News story in early October. He took a prototype to Corrales Elementary School this fall for feedback, and then modified his design to make desk legs shorter for a better fit for a typical kid in kindergarten through third grade.
As of January 1, he and other woodworkers have produced 24 small desks for Corrales Elementary, Alameda Elementary and Bernalillo Elementary., and for distribution through the Corrales Fire Department.Rick Thaler, his son, Jacob Thaler, and Tracy Murray have joined the team, along with Rio Rancho’s Mike Murray, members of the Albuquerque Woodworker’s Association.
They enlisted help from the Kiwanis Club of Corrales which donated $300 to defray cost of materials, about $30-40 each. Donations have come in from other sources. National Wood Products provided materials, while Shannon Perry of Bluedog Fine Woodworking donated computer numerical control programming and machine time to cut desk parts, and Billy Warriner and Mike Otero of DS Assemblies provided assembly time.