Charlotte Builder Turns Excess Wood into Desks for Local Students

One Charlotte home builder took it upon herself to build desks for local schoolchildren who did not have a proper place at home for virtual learning. Cristal Cox was given $1,000 to support her efforts from home builder Taylor Morrison’s Build Joy initiative. Each year, Taylor Morrison requests ideas on how to “build joy” in neighborhoods and this was the first year where the initiative was nationally recognized. Cox upcycled scrapped wood from past building projects to construct 10 desks, according to WCNC.

Cox was selected out of dozens of people across the country to receive $1,000 to spread joy in Charlotte, no matter how big or small.

She decided to build desks using excess wood for students without them.

“As a builder, we just kind of trash so much wood, and I was thinking maybe there’s a way we can upcycle some of the 2x4s for desk legs, and sure enough, there was," Cox said.

To get the word out, she posted to the Nextdoor app, and the community responded.

A teacher reached out on behalf of two of her students. A mother who is on disability said her daughter needs a space to do her schoolwork.

Read More