SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — They are a unique group of people who turn pieces of small wood into beautiful and meaningful products that they donate to others.
They call themselves the Siouxland Woodturners and their skills and work are turning lots of heads. It starts out as a small piece of wood, but it’s going to leave a big impression on someone.
Using a lathe and the right set of tools, the Siouxland Woodturners have been making military pens for 20 years.
“We call them our M-16 pens and we donate military pens to the VA at Christmas time to patients to bring them a little bright light during Christmas time,” Siouxland Woodturner Aaron Solberg said.
“We make about 150 to 200 pens in three hours,” Bill McGinnis said.
McGinnis is one of 80 members in the club right now who come from all over the Tri-State area.
He enjoys making the pens that are part wood and part M-16 cartridge shell.
“Many of the veterans in the hospital this might be the only present they get and the only visit they get on Christmas Day, some of them don’t have any family so we are their family,” McGinnis said.
“And we also donate pens to returning veterans from deployment; soldiers and airman coming back from deployment in this area.”
“You can make anything your imagination only limits you when you’re woodturning,” John Weaver said.
The woodturners also make wig stands.
“We donate wig stands to cancer patients who have lost their hair after chemotherapy,” Solberg said.
“One of the most devastating moments for somebody with cancer is when they lose their hair and what we found out what means a lot to them is letting them know somebody is thinking about them who doesn’t even know them in that situation during that time.”
The club makes about 140 wig stands in three to four hours.
Once they get started, they say it’s hard to stop, because it’s somewhat therapeutic.
“You forget about everything while you are at the lathe it’s just addictive you’ll sit there for hours and forget what time it is until somebody asks you to come into the house,” Solberg said.
“One of the guys says hey you want to come to a woodturning club I’m thinking I’ve done some wood work but I’m interested so I came to the club and I got smitten,” Weaver said.
Besides the military pen and the wig stands they also turn bowls and platters some of these right here were made from a beloved tree on the campus of Augustana University.
“Augustana just had a tree come down that was sentimental to a lot of their alumni and they were looking for a way to to get funds for a scholarship, so we took some of that wood cut it up and made bowls and at their fundraiser at their homecoming in October they’re auctioning that off and the proceeds will go to a scholarships,” Solberg said.
“You’ll see something somebody has turned and it’s just beautiful and they’ll invite you over and they’ll show you how to do it,” Weaver said.
That’s why they’re inviting others to join their club and turn some wood for a good cause.
If you’re interested they’ll pencil you in.
“Anybody can do it,” Weaver said.
The Siouxland Woodturners also hold community education courses with the Sioux Falls School District and they hold meetings the first Saturday of every month at the Harrisburg High School shop class.
