Madisonville North Hopkins Builds More Than Just Beds

For multiple years, students at Madisonville North Hopkins High School in Kentucky have been building beds for local students in need. This has been very important for families and students all around, but more recently the impact of the project has grown even larger.

When the school partnered with the Madisonville Rotary Club last year, the impact and reach became larger. This year, students made 18 twin beds, along with one bunk bed, helping provide safe, as well as comfortable sleeping, especially during Kentucky’s bitter cold winter season. Last year, the school’s work provided 33 beds for local families. The totals vary each year, depending on the applications received by Family Resource Youth Service Centers, better known as FRYSC.

“We’ve made beds for multiple years, but partnering with the Madisonville Rotary Club really allowed us to increase our project,” says Brian Welch, Madisonville North Hopkins FFA advisor.

This project is made to showcase hands-on learning skills. It all begins in Ag Hall, but Welch intentionally invites this heartwarming experience to more students.

“We try to go beyond just ag classes,” Welch says. “We invite some freshman to come in and learn and work alongside students in my shop classes.”

Each year, approximately 90 students in total work on this project, which adds up to about 10% of the school. It also makes it a large range of student involvement. This project is far more than just woodworking; it’s a contribution to the community, and it gives a sense of purpose to students’ learning.

“Not only does it give back to the community, but adds extra value in what we do in the shop,” Welch says. “Students can apply skills learned to something that will change the lives of others.”

By the way of teamwork, support and community outreach, students at Madisonville North Hopkins are building more than furniture; they are learning how to build connections, compassion and confidence, one bed at a time.