Home builder group works with students to build the Santa House

Local businesses, the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders (GFSAHB), community organizations and the Fort Smith Public School District are bringing a little magic to Fort Smith this year in the form of a Santa House.

The Santa House will be home to skate rentals for the Fourth Annual Synthetic Ice Rink, which opens Dec. 5 at Hunts Park. The project was led by the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders and completed by students in the Residential Construction Apprentice Program (RCAP).

“The creation of the Santa House has been a great collaboration between students of RCAP, Peak Innovation students, our HBA members, and the community,” said DeAnne Hankins, executive officer of Fort Smith HBA. “Special thanks go out to our members who not only donated supplies but also their time to help build this Santa House. It was a fantastic opportunity for first- and second-year RCAP students to work side-by-side with skilled instructors and professionals.”

RCAP is a hands-on carpentry training program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that provides students the opportunity to apply their learning to a real-world project. Students from Peak’s Construction Technology program added electrical components to the Santa House.

“This partnership between Peak and the Fort Smith HBA truly embodies the spirit of the season – giving back, learning, and creating joy,” a news release said.

The GFSAHB RCAP program is a 2-year program that is approved by the DOL and in partnership with Fort Smith Public School Adult Education and Peak Innovation Center.

Students learn basic carpentry and higher level carpentry to build an actual house. The essential program is important as far as building job skills for a specific trade – such as residential construction, said Matthew Hominick, director of adult education for Fort Smith Public Schools.

Adult students leave the program with the necessary certifications to be able to find a job and are able to meet with representatives from local companies in a way that can lead to a job. They also are learning content-needed math and reading skills, Hominick said. It’s also important to the community because the program leads to jobs.

“There is a dearth of skilled labor in the construction field and we need it very badly. We’re teaching basic carpentry now, but we are going to expand it later to concrete finishing to masonry. We want to be able to get young people enthusiastic about construction because it’s difficult work, but it’s never boring and eventually you can be your own boss,” said Rocky Walker, president of the GFSAHB.

All the materials needed for the Santa House, which will be painted Santa red with white trim before it opens, were donated, Walker said. Elite Roofing, Lumber One, Lowe’s, ABC Supply, WeatherBarr Windows & Doors and more donated thousands of dollars’ worth of supplies for the project.

The Fort Smith Ice Rink featuring the Santa House will be located across from the holiday lights at Creekmore Park in Hunt’s Park, 3000 Dodson Ave.

Opening Dec. 5, the ice rink supports the Community Rescue Mission and the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Smith, with all proceeds going to the organizations. It is sponsored by First National Bank of Fort Smith.