The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has selected Augusta Technical College as a recipient of one of its 2007 Community Service grants valued at $10,000. Lowe’s has partnered with the national office of SkillsUSA to award ten $10,000 grants to high schools and colleges nationwide for use in a community service project. Augusta Tech’s local chapter of SkillsUSA headed up by Andrew Jefferson partnered with Beverly Peltier of the Augusta Technical College Foundation and Dr. Melissa Frank-Alston with the support of President Terry Elam to write a community service project grant in support of Augusta Restoration Services. SkillsUSA students and other volunteers will help to rehab the Augusta Restoration Services building. More details will be forthcoming on how to participate in this project.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA helps students excel. SkillsUSA serves more than 280,000 students and instructors nationwide annually. The organization has over 13,000 school chapters in 54 states and territorial associations.

Augusta Restoration Services formerly the Augusta Training Shop for the Handicapped is a United Way supported non-profit work activities center that provides sheltered remunerative work adjustment activities for the physically and mentally handicapped, providing each client with an opportunity to develop to his/her fullest potential and become as self-sufficient as possible.

Augusta Restoration Services is a sheltered employment facility. The program is designed to provide a controlled and protected work environment for individuals with restricted physical and/or mental capabilities. The program gives the clients basic work experience and work adjustment. Participation in activities teaches work habits through actual experiences which include arriving to work on time, accurate sign in/out, proper use of break time activities, appropriate co-worker and supervisor relationships and so forth. Clients learn a marketable skill on a limited basis to match their abilities and interests. Skills that are taught include chair caning, chair rushing, sewing and furniture restoration. Each client is allowed to work at his/her own pace.