By Mark Hutchins
What is a Wood Chuck? It is a talented, hardworking individual who uses his carpentry skills to help others. Lutheran Hillside Village is the home of a group of woodworking men who are affectionately known as “The Wood Chucks.” This group of about 12 active members can be found working on projects at the village for the residents, their families, and the staff. They repair and create items as small as pine wood derby cars to large scale pieces of furniture like bookcases.
As I toured around the campus, items made by the Wood Chucks were abundant. Hand-crafted benches are located throughout the village and are used often. Member Bill Ritson says that, over the years, the two most memorable projects the group made together were the shelves for the books in the library and the linen closet, which is used in the dining hall.
Member Bob Norman, who has been in the group for six years now, works along with his wife, Donna, to create and build doll houses. Member Walt Gutzwiller, with the help of other members of the group, created two large furniture items for his daughter, a ten-foot table and bookcase made with black walnut.
Since material costs can add up quickly, this group tries to be frugal. Many items they can reuse from garage sales and around the facility. For example, they salvaged material from a recent renovation at the village and used it to make an oak drop box for the residents to utilize. “Additionally, this salvaged wood has allowed us to create quite a stockpile for future projects,” stated Bill Ritson.
Materials and equipment are stored right in their workshop, which encompasses a 1650 square-foot house on the Lutheran Hillside Village campus that is separated into three areas: measuring and painting, assembly, and cutting and storage. Their equipment includes two contractor-size table saws (capacity to cut 4’x8’ sheets of plywood), two planners, a 6-foot joiner, four routers (table and plunger), a 14” chop saw, band saws (6” and 14”), and drill presses (including a floor mount).
They also have a wall full of clamps. Member Dave Greer says, “You cannot have enough clamps!” The group’s workshop even utilizes a dust collection system with a fine air filter. The workshop’s equipment gets put to use on a regular basis and is well taken care of.
One unique project request came from Director of Lifestyle Enrichment, Rachel Keistler. Rachel’s office had a space, but no place to put things. The Wood Chucks jumped into action and were at her office the very next day with pen and paper in hand. The group provided her with a deep shelving system and she was thrilled with the type of wood they used. The completed project even surprised Rachel. She said “a lot more detail went into the project than I had imagined.”
Working on projects together has helped members cultivate a unique bond, even outside of the workshop. The members often get together with their families to share holiday dinners and have cookouts in the summer. It’s a special group, the Wood Chucks, and they are making a difference in the lives of other residents, staff, and family members, one project at a time.
To learn more about The Wood Chucks and others at Lutheran Hillside Village, call the village at 309-692-4600, or visit them at 6901 N. Galena Road in Peoria. You can even find them on the web at: lssliving.org/communities/lutheran-hillside-village.