Hands-on help for Camp Fire sur vivors
When Tracy Jacobson was asked to help teach kids construction skills by building tiny homes for Camp Fire survivors – she didn’t even hesitate before saying “yes.”
The combination of teaching hands–on skills while giving back to the community has been a dream of Jacobson’s for a long time. So when Jerry Handy, executive director of the 4G Foundation, a nonprofit based out of Sutter, contacted her she jumped at the opportunity.
She and her husband Jeff Jacobson run Viking Woodworks and Learning Center in Marysville, which teaches a variety of hands–on classes like wood shop, sewing, and food preserving to kids of all ages.
This fall, they will offer a class to teach young people construction skills while building two tiny homes that will be donated to victims of the Camp Fire.
The families receiving the tiny homes will come from a wait–list compiled by Alyssa Nolan–cain who runs Tiny Homes for Camp Fire Survivors. There are currently over 400 survivors on the list, according to the their Facebook page.
“Being able to bless another family and being able to see that
in another family’s face that you’ve made a difference is something that very few programs can offer,” Jacobson said.
The students will be involved at each step of the home building process, from planning all the way through installing the homes in Paradise.
Jacobson emphasized that they want to make sure the homes are built right, and said they will be partnering with contractors and carpenters to teach the kids how to
safely and properly construct the homes.
“It’s not just ‘let’s get out there and build’ it’s ‘let’s learn how to do it correctly, let’s read through the curriculum, let’s figure out what California code says is the correct way to do this,’” Jacobson said.
Students from 7th to 12th grade can apply and will need to submit a short video explaining why they think they would be a good candidate for the project.
“This is a commitment,” Jacobson said. “We’re counting on them and the family is counting on them
to be able to deliver.”
The weekly class costs $1,000 which covers tools, curriculum and a portfolio documenting the steps of the process. Jacobson said that she has already fully funded one full scholarship and is looking to partner with as many local businesses as she can to fund more. There is also a place on the application to note if a student needs a full or partial scholarship.
“We are funding scholarships every single day– don’t let that hinder you from applying,” Jacobson said.
The two classes will be offered Saturday morning and afternoon and will run from September to December with the potential to build more tiny homes next year, Jacobson said.
“We’re open to continuing the program as long as we can for whatever natural disaster is out there, wherever we can build for,” Jacobson said.
To download the application, visit the Viking Woodworks & Learning Center Facebook page. To send the application and video or inquire about sponsoring a scholarship, email vikingwoodworkslearningcenter@gmail. com.