G&G Hauling & Excavating of Warsaw donated 20 kids’ construction kits to Kosciusko County LaunchPad’s Future Builders program. LaunchPad, which is the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce’s child care and early learning coalition, created the program to help teach kids about construction. From left: Chamber Member Relations Manager Scott Wiley, LaunchPad Administrative Assistant Barb Smolen, G&G’s Richard Groninger, Joel Groninger and Cary Groninger, LaunchPad Director Sherry Searles and Chamber President and CEO Rob Parker. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Kids in Kosciusko County will get a head start on learning how to build things thanks to a donation from a local company.

G&G Hauling & Excavating of Warsaw recently donated 20 Stanley Jr. kids’ tool kits for local child care providers.

Sherry Searles, the director of LaunchPad, which is the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce’s child care and early learning coalition, said at a presentation event on Tuesday, May 24, the kits would help kids “with fine motor skills and problem solving.”

“We have a lot of early learning programs that use the HighScope Curriculum. It’s a research-based curriculum and a part of that is they have an area in their room where they do woodworking … where they can use real tools and work on their fine motor skills and problem solving,” she said. “I know a lot of our programs and teachers really wanted some of these types of things in the room and they can’t always afford the things that they want, so thank you for donating to our Future Builders program.”

Searles explained to media members that LaunchPad had contacted area construction companies about donating for the Future Builders program, which LaunchPad just started to help teach kids about construction.

“Our company’s … (in its) 56th year of business here in the community and we always look for ways … to be able to give back to the community and this was a way that we’re able to give to some kids, get them started, get them excited about the construction industry,” said G&G President Cary Groninger.

The kits include hammers, safety goggles and screwdrivers.

Groninger noted that he and his brother Richard Groninger, who also works for G&G, both enjoyed playing with LEGOs when they were younger.

“Those motor skills that you learn when you’re little, it kind of attracts you to I think a career path in the future, so I mean I think this is a great opportunity for those kids that maybe have not gotten exposure to the construction industry to have some exposure,” said Cary Groninger.

If any other companies wish to donate to the Future Builders program, they should reach out to LaunchPad.