MOUNT VERNON — The Smith family of Columbus Road received the perfect Christmas gift last week when a big truck brought a new cedar playset to their door.
Barb and Donald Smith, who care for and have adopted several foster children, and who also have five young grandchildren, had only a two-seater swing set.
“They had to take turns,” said Barb. “That’s why we really needed a big swing set.”
The foster children include a 2-, 4-, 13- and 15-year-old; the grandchildren are 5 months and 18 months, and 2, 4 and 6. The Smiths also have adult foster and biological children.
Barb contacted the Knox County Career Center to discuss the possibility of students building a playset, and began to send e-mails to manufacturers, inquiring whether the family might purchase a playset at discount or at cost.
“Out of the blue,” she said, “I got an e-mail from CedarWorks, out of Maine, saying they would donate one to us. They sent an e-mail picture so the kids could see it all set up. It’s an awesome set, and it’s worth $3,900. And they even paid the shipping, $350. Can you believe it?”
CedarWorks Playsets, based in Rockport, Maine, was founded in 1981 and purchased by Duncan Brown in 1988, said his son, Barrett Brown, now the company’s president.
Brown said his father wanted to own and grow a successful business, but also wanted to provide jobs and benefits that would make a difference in his employees’ lives. He also wanted to give something back to the community, said Brown. Thus, for nearly 20 years, CedarWorks has accepted applications from organizations devoted to children for donations of cedar playsets. Its ReCedaring program has distributed 400,000 cedar seedlings, and the company commits 10 percent of after-tax profits to organizations that help children and the environment.
Brown reviews the playset applications himself and makes the decisions about donations. He said he bases his decisions on the need and on the impact the donation will have on the recipients.
“We typically do not donate playsets to individual families,” he said via e-mail. “[But] the Smith family request is a good case in point. Sadly, there are many, many needy families out there that make requests, and many of them have fallen on hard times, often through no fault of their own. The Smith family case stands out not because of their need, but because of their giving.
“No matter how generous people may say CedarWorks has been, it pales in comparison to what the Smith family does day in and day out. I know how demanding it is to be the parent of four healthy children. However, I know that I do not have the courage, strength, commitment or, I am chagrined to say, generosity to give my whole life to care for others as have the Smiths. I wanted to simply help them in this most commendable mission, and to celebrate their selflessness.”
The truck delivered the unassembled playset in many boxes. The plan is that career center students will assemble and install it in the Smiths’ yard next spring, said Barb.
“This way, the kids won’t have to take turns [swinging],” she said.
Barb said the children are delighted and excited with their Christmas gift, and anxious to let the folks at CedarWorks know that.
“They’re going to make a big thank you card to send to them,” she said.
