A team of military veterans skilled in woodworking has partnered with the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County to host the Falcon Children’s Home Woodshop Exhibit that will be on display through May 20, according to a release from the Arts Council.
Falcon Children's Home and Family Services in Falcon provides year-round housing for foster children who require a safe space and positive atmosphere to aid them in recovering from abuse, neglect, or maltreatment, the release said.
The free public exhibit at the Arts Center at 301 Hay St. features the woodworking talents and techniques of five exceptional young women from Falcon Children's Home, ages 14 to 18. Their works include stained-glass art along with a diverse range of woodcrafts such as jewelry boxes, cutting boards, wall art, benches and tables.
Visitors can purchase the works and directly support the young artists who created them. All proceeds go directly to the artists, the release said.
Lead instructor John DeGreef, a military veteran, established the woodshop program in 2015 to instill lifelong skills and build confidence through woodworking. Thanks to the Youth Growth Stock Trust and other donations, DeGreef was able to acquire cutting-edge equipment and toofor the woodshop, the release said.
Carl Sanders, a woodturning instructor, and Derek Feely, a CNC machine instructor, later joined DeGreef's woodworking team. They use the woodshop as a therapeutic outlet for foster children to manage and release anger and pain by redirecting their focus toward a creative skill, the release said.
For more information on Falcon Children's Home and Family Services, visit www.falconchildrenshome.org/.
