Grow Lawrence County’s ILJAS - Manufacturing Class Donates 11 Radiator Covers to Agape Kids House

The 19th class of the Introduction to Local Jobs And Skills (ILJAS) – Manufacturing program gave back to the community by building and painting 11 radiator covers for local nonprofit organization, Agape Kids House, a safe and supportive home for emergency foster care located in Bedford. Through this three-week technical and employability skills training coordinated by Grow Lawrence County (a workforce and education arm of Lawrence County Economic Growth Council) participants learned the basics of Construction, Machining, and Welding, obtained information regarding Health & Safety careers and received certification in CPR/AED, first aid, and Stop the Bleed.

During the construction phase, twenty-two class participants were excited to contribute to a worthy cause and thrilled to lend their skills and creativity to enhance the safety of the facility. This donation makes a significant contribution to the house’s ongoing efforts to provide a safe and welcoming environment for children in need and assistance to foster families in search of critical resources. The covers will help prevent potential injuries to children by safely concealing hot radiators and sharp edges. The project also allowed participants to learn or refine their hands-on construction skills while gaining a deeper sense of connection to the community. For many, it was a rewarding opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to a tangible project that helps improve the lives of others.

Britney Arce, the Co-President of Agape Kids House, stated, “The community has always been supportive and has been even more supportive since we moved to our new house on December 1, 2024. Assistance came from organizations like the Growth Council/Grow Lawrence County, Bailey Property Inspection (donated their time and expertise), Big Deal Painting (donated time to paint the interior walls), Gerkin Construction and Mikels Signs (moved a storage shed from our old location to our new location), Lawrence Community Foundation (financial assistance through its grants program), and Jim Sowders, who raised the majority of the money for a down payment on our new house.”

“Our participants were excited to make a real-world impact on such a meaningful project,” said Cathy Bullington, Grow Lawrence County Adult Education Coordinator. Cathy added, “Previous participants have worked on several community-based projects, including picnic tables for the Lawrence County Fairgrounds, benches for Avoca Park, play structures for Playful Pathways Preschool, and several sheds for various non-profits.”

Several participants plan to continue their education by enrolling in Indiana’s NextLevelJobs program (at no cost) as they’ve shown interest in advancing into construction, welding, truck driving, or cyber security careers. This class brings the total number of graduates for the ILJAS program to 200.

LCEGC is currently accepting students for the next cohort to be held February 24- March 13, 2025. The ideal student is a Lawrence County resident who is not yet earning a living wage. If you are interested in participating in the program, or an employer interested in getting involved, please contact Cathy Bullington at 812-797-3559 or cathy@lawrencecountygrowth.com.