GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — There’s currently a shortage of multiple items right now due to COVID-19, and one of those is outdoor tables.
That’s why two groups in Grand Rapids had the idea to build tables so that local businesses could move their services outside.
“Across the city, there's tons and tons of restaurants that are moving outside to be able to accommodate everything that's happening with COVIDk,” Stephanie Adams, executive director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. "There's just not enough tables, as well as an additional expense for a lot of our restaurants who have been struggling through many months of COVID."
Uptown Grand Rapids inc. and Friends of Grand Rapids Parks are coming together along with several volunteers to build these tables for area businesses cost-free.
The groups have already collected locally found and donated materials to make 50 pallet tables for the local Uptown area.
They start building the tables August 27 and need more volunteers. They will be meeting at Wilcox Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
If you can’t make that they will be building again August 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
If you would still like to help in some other way, the groups are hoping for more donations of 4x4s or 2x4s that are 30 inches or longer to use as table legs.
In order to stay safe during COVID, they are asking volunteers to sign up ahead of time to keep a limit of 10 or fewer people.
Don’t forget a hammer and cordless drill if you have one.
All volunteers will also receive a free mask.
Please contact Friends of Grand Rapids Parks to volunteer or to donate any wood to this project: 616-288-7209 or email at info@friendsofgrparks.org.
