Rockler helps kids tune into summer

Rockler Woodworking & Hardware, a supplier of specialty woodworking products, recently afforded Chicago-area students the opportunity to build fun projects that they can enjoy all summer. At the end of the school year, the national retailer donated Bluetooth speaker kits to the city’s Simeon Career Academy to support the school’s carpentry program and inspire students’ woodworking career goals.

“For many of us, shop class is where our woodworking skills begin and end, but our hope is that through donations like this we can help young people continue to build on their skills and extend their love of the craft that so many people enjoy,” says Steve Singer, Rockler’s CEO.

Simeon Academy carpentry students worked on the wooden speaker kits as a year-end project, led by instructor Isiah Rowsey.

“It’s always exciting to see students improve on their woodworking skills throughout the school year and the Rockler Bluetooth speakers served as a fun project to give the students an opportunity to show off what they’ve learned this year,” Rowsey said in a statement. “America needs young carpenters and woodworkers, and our school was fortunate to receive this important donation to give students quality tools and projects to help inspire their futures.”

In addition to the Bluetooth speaker kits, Rockler also donated tools and materials to the school, including walnut and maple to build out the speakers, dowels, doweling jigs, and drill bits needed for assembly.

Celebrating its 69th anniversary as a family-run business, Rockler has over 40 retail locations across 26 states, as well as extensive catalog and internet operations. For more, visit rockler.com.

This article was originally published in the September 2023 issue.