Students in Kristen Perriman’s Housing Decisions and Interior Design class at Washington High School recently completed a hands-on community service project that combined creativity, collaboration, and compassion.

Over the course of the past quarter, students took on what they dubbed a “BiG” project: transforming nine outdated but structurally sound chairs into beautiful, reupholstered pieces for three local nonprofit organizations — ALIVE, the Franklin County Children and Families Community Resource Board (FCCRB), and Hope Ranch.

As part of the project, students first connected with each organization to discuss color preferences. They then removed the old fabric, thoroughly cleaned the chair frames, applied chalk paint and wax, sanded and sealed the armrests, and reupholstered the seats. Each chair was carefully reconstructed by the students, resulting in a fresh and functional piece ready for donation.

The project required plenty of problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork. Students borrowed tools from other teachers, worked through challenges together, and several even volunteered their time outside of class to ensure the project was completed on schedule.

“It was a great project with a lot of problem solving,” said Perriman. “The students really took ownership, and their determination to give back made this an incredible learning experience.”

The final results were not only visually impressive but also deeply meaningful, as each chair found a new home supporting organizations that serve the community.