Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Lowe’s and Kobalt Tools, in partnership with SkillsUSA, recently donated a toolbox full of tools to both the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center and the Caribou Regional Applied Technology Center as part of the store’s new Tough Tools for Cool Schools program.
“Each school received five hammers, five adjustable wrench sets, five cutters, five drill bit sets, five saws, five pliers, five tape measures and more, plus a toolbox to keep the tools in,” said Ray Porter, commercial sales specialist at the Presque Isle store. “This is the first year the Presque Isle store has participated in the Tough Tools for Cool Schools program, and we look forward to having other opportunities to help the schools, as well.
“It’s good to give back to the community,” he said, “plus a lot of the students who are in these programs will be in the trades, and our donation gives them an opportunity to learn how to use the tools properly and make sure they are safe. It’s a benefit to the young folks in Aroostook County to have something like this, and we’re just glad to be a part of that.”
Jim Ouellette, building trades instructor at PIRCTC, said he couldn’t recall a time in his 36 years of teaching that the school received such a huge donation.
“Our budgets are OK, but we’re always needing more and more equipment,” he said. “By receiving a donation like this, we can spend our money on supplies rather than looking for equipment, which is very, very helpful.
“They’re tools that the students need every day,” he said. “With students, tools wear out and they’ve got be updated so they’re safe. This is fantastic.”
Spencer Bragan, Caribou’s residential construction instructor, agreed.
“This donation means a lot because we always need tools,” he said. “In a working trades field, you wear tools out … tape measure and things, so this helps reimburse that so we won’t miss a beat when a tool goes down.
“The tools will help the students get ready to be contractors and workers in the field,” said Bragan. “They will enjoy these tools immensely and they’re well appreciated.”
“I think it’s pretty awesome of Lowe’s to make this donation,” said Caribou senior Maria Hodsdon. “Sometimes things get broken or you run out of stuff, so we’ve now got backup tools.”
Presque Isle senior Isaac Ashby said, “It’s always good to get new things.”
“We have some pretty new things at the shop, but we always like to have spares,” he said. “It’s good to be recognized as a SkillsUSA club; we do a lot of things for the community, so it’s a pretty good feeling.”
This year, Lowe’s will donate approximately $300,000 worth of Kobalt tools to more than 500 SkillsUSA building and construction trades classes across the country for use in their classrooms.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
AS PART OF LOWE’S “Tough Tools for Cool Schools” program, students from the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center (PIRCTC) recently received a toolbox full of tools donated by Lowe’s and Kobalt Tools, in partnership with SkillsUSA. This year, Lowe’s will donate approximately $300,000 worth of Kobalt tools to more than 500 SkillsUSA building and construction trades classes across the country for use in their classrooms. Accepting the donation are, front row, from left: Spencer Goodine and Jim Ouellette, building trades instructor at PIRCTC. Back row: Ray Porter, commercial sales specialist at the Presque Isle Lowe’s store; Brandon Hafford, Peter Palmer, Isaac Ashby, Matt LaJoie, Joshua Buck, John Ansolini, Travis Pinette, Larry Fox, PIRCTC director; and Joe Haley, commercial sales specialist at Lowe’s.
