News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cumberland Woodturners will turn their handmade Christmas ornaments into money for local kids throughout December.
The organization brings together men and women who enjoy creating through the art of wood turning. Two trees covered with the group’s original designs for the holidays are now on display at Crossville’s Dogwood Exchange and the Village Green Mall.
Cumberland Woodturner’s President Thomas Neckvatal said these ornaments are a hit with locals because they know the fundraising is staying in the community.
“We name them right on our sign, right on our sign it says all benefits go to Kids on The Rise or House of Hope,” Neckvatal said. “People are willing to buy our ornaments because they know it’s going there… if you donate to one of the bigger organizations that are national organizations you don’t know where that money’s going… and we know it stays in the neighborhood.”
Kids on The Rise is a mentoring program for kids in Crossville. House of Hope helps children displaced, often because of drug arrests.
Neckvatal said the woodturners don’t ask to set the sale price for their ornaments, they just care that whatever it sells for, it goes towards something positive.
“These guys donate the stuff without question, there is no, ‘I don’t think I’m gonna get much money for this’, nobody ever says anything like that,” Neckvatal said. “They know the cause is so important that, that never comes up.”
Neckvatal said the ornaments can range from a sea urchin to a birdhouse. Every woodturner has their own styles and taste, just like the people looking to buy.
“To really get a flavor of what that is, is just go to Dogwood Exchange or visit us at Village Green Mall and see for yourself,” Neckvatal said. “It’s an interesting cross section of the art form that has been displayed there.”
Neckvatal said ornaments will be sold until December 16. He said prices range from $5 to $35 depending on the time and detail put into the ornaments.
