Tec Voc busy building beds

Submitted by Toby Punton, Tec Voc vocational resource teacher

Technical Vocational High School wants Winnipeg School Division students to get a good night's sleep.

Tec Voc has teamed up with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a non-profit charity that provides beds for youth aged three to 17.   

It's an unfortunate reality that there are students in WSD who sleep on the floor or are without a bed of their own. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted many of our families and the need in our community is overwhelming.

As educators, we witness the impacts of sleep-deprived children in our schools. A bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional and mental support of a child. A new bed provides dignity to the family, as well as warmth, comfort and a sense of self-worth to a child.

That's why the Tec Voc Carpentry program, along with students from the Learning Assistance Centre (LAC), have been busy building 150 beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

The students are learning the safety aspects of all machines and equipment, while still achieving curricular outcomes. Students have learned how to use various hand and power tools to assemble the beds. Students are also learning how to stain the bed frames using a dip tank containing a mixture of vinegar and steel wool. Not only does it leave the frame a beautiful colour, it is also a natural bed bug inhibitor.

Beyond the curriculum and hands-on training, Tec Voc students are learning about the importance of helping others in our community. Our goal as educators is to promote citizenship and community involvement. The lessons learned by these students will hopefully stay with them as adults in our society.

Tec Voc staff, students and the community have assisted in collecting new twin bedding, pillows and mattresses to help with this initiative. Donations are being collected in the work education centre and placed in our "caring crib."

It is our plan to collect enough bedding for 25 beds, that will go directly to Tec-Voc students and their families. The remaining beds will be distributed to residents throughout the Winnipeg School Division.

Donations of bedding can be sent to:

Technical Vocational High School (Attention of Toby Punton)
Winnipeg, MB
1555 Wall St., R3E 2S2