From the outside looking in, the Operation Northern Comfort headquarters may have looked like an outdoor home economics class Sunday, with students building and staining wood.

What You Need To Know

  • When Operation Northern Comfort learned students were learning from their bed, the floor, and closets, they decided to something about it
  • They recruited more than 20 volunteers to build desks, and allowed families to put the finishing touch on them by staining them
  • Sunday was the pilot program, but they're hoping to give more than 500 desks to students in the community
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But it wasn't a class, rather an organization making sure students are prepared for class.

"A lot of the students were doing Zoom or contacting teachers, learning from the top of their beds on the floor in the closet," said PGR Foundation President and Operation Northern Comfort Board member Debra McClendon-Boddie.

Operation Northern Comfort recruited more than 20 volunteers to build the desks so students have a better opportunity to succeed learning from home, in their own space.

"That’s the import thing. Getting up the next morning and knowing it’s already there. You don’t have to go and take everything out all over again. Because it’s you have your desk and it’s yours and that’s where your belongings are," said parent Annie Johnson.

The organization hopes to provide 500 desks to students, using Sunday’s giveaway as a pilot program with the PGR Foundation.

On Sunday, they gave away 28 desks to 17 families, in addition to some other organizational tools.

"In addition to the students getting desks, we’re also giving them desk organizers and headphones, so they’re not distracted by noise in the house," said McClendon-Boddie.

Organizers say they wanted students to not only receive a desk, but have a hand in creating their desk.

"I think it’ll keep me a little bit more organized because I have one main place where I can sit and do all my work,” said Madison Woolford, third-grade mentee.

If you're interested in receiving a desk or volunteering to build a desk, head to Operation Northern Comfort's Contact Page and leave your name, address, and phone number.