Retired businessman Tom Morgan was never a professional woodworker, but always enjoyed the art, so when he learned the Pine Tree Society needed volunteers six years ago, he signed up.
“I wanted something to do; something worthy to do,” he said. “I reckon that was worthy.”
Morgan, of Scarborough, produces handcrafted wood pieces for the Pine Tree Society, a non-profit organization providing a variety of services to handicapped youths and adults.
Recently, Morgan oversaw the installation of his largest project to date, two pieces of handicapped accessible playground equipment at Eight Corners School. One piece was a fire truck and the other a train.
He said it took two months to create the pieces. A group of volunteers, including football players from Scarborough High School, helped move them to Eight Corners, install and paint them.
Both the fire truck and train allow wheelchair access and provide enough room for a number of students to play in.
Eight Corners is home to a bus made by another Pine Tree Society volunteer. Morgan has recently completed restoring the piece, which was very popular with students.
“The thing was so popular they couldn’t believe it,” Morgan said.
Morgan was recently recognized for his efforts when he was chosen for the “Six Who Care” award, presented by WCSH 6 in Portland. The award recognizes volunteers in the state.
Producing playground equipment is a new project for the Pine Tree Society. Through its group of 45 core volunteers throughout the state the Pine Tree Society has produced just four playground pieces, three of which are at Eight Corners School. The other piece that was recently completed – a lobster boat – in located in Augusta.
“It’s an area we felt challenged to work in and thought we could build beautiful equipment at a reasonable rate for schools,” said Jeremy Lucas, director for the Kids Project.
The Kids Project is one program within the Pine Tree Society. Its goal is to provide Maine youths and some adults with low-cost adaptive equipment, which the volunteers produce.
Adaptive equipment such as custom-made chairs allows children more support than a regular chair, often through the use of harnesses and seatbelts, Lucas said. Most of the equipment is used in a classroom environment, although some products are used at home as well.
“We want to make a piece of equipment that will allow them to function as best as they can in a classroom setting,” Lucas said. “The quality and craftsmanship is second to none.”
Morgan, who rents space at a building on Washington Avenue in Scarborough exclusively for his work with the Kids Project, spends most of his time making a number of items including puzzles, adjustable tables and adaptive chairs. Since he started volunteering Morgan figures he has made more than 1,000 pieces.
“It’s all I do now,” he said. “I just come over here and have a good time.”
Because of the volunteer labor the Kids Project is able to provide schools and parents a wide variety of products at 40 to 70 percent below normal market costs, Lucas said. While most of the equipment goes to Maine residents, the program is becoming better known and has sold products to New Hampshire and Vermont residents.
Morgan became involved with the program after reading a news story detailing the organization’s need for woodworkers. While Morgan, who owned a variety of business throughout his life including an art gallery and a trucking company, has never commercially produced wood items, he always has enjoyed it as a hobby.
“I like working with wood,” he said. “I found my niche, if you will.”
The Pine Tree Society donates all of the wood for the projects and Morgan builds items to order. Sometimes there already are plans drawn up, but he has on occasion developed his own designs for products.
Morgan made a bed that can be rolled around a home for a pair of terminally ill children living in Casco. He also recently built a large diaper-changing station for a school.
Most of the time Morgan does not know where his items go because of strict confidentially rules, and has not seen many of his items in use.
There are strict guidelines for building items for the Pine Tree Society to ensure that children are not hurt. For example, none of the items can have sharp corners and stain cannot be used on the wood. Additionally, once an item is finished only water-based polyurethane can be painted on the item.
Morgan does not produce any commercial work and said he feels comfortable working for the Pine Tree Society and knowing his time is going to a good cause.
“I enjoy doing it, the challenge is always interesting,” he said. “It’s fun to do something worthwhile.”
Tom Morgan giving his train a check-up at Eight Corners School this week.
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