05/25/2026
How lucky are we to have veterans whose lives have been changed by Salute to Carpentry, and who are willing to share that experience publicly?
And to do it right in front of us, too. LOL.
This is Megan, and she’s pretty awesome, if we do say so ourselves.
Megan joined us on Fred LeFebvre’s 1370 WSPD “Fred in the morning” show to talk about Salute to Carpentry, the impact of the program, and our upcoming pre-sale and meat raffle. She did awesome. Truly. The clips are in the comments, and we are so grateful she was willing to share a piece of her story.
Megan is quiet and steady. A thinker. A powerhouse who never asks for attention, but somehow earns it just by being present. At the workshop, she has more than earned it.
She first joined us as a novice woodworker in one of our very first Salute to Carpentry cohorts in 2024. She completed the original program and made occasional drop-ins afterward, but this past winter, Megan found her way back to the workshop. She listened to that little voice inside her that wondered, “Could I?”
And she did.
Since then, Megan has spent countless hours in the workshop practicing her skills, growing her confidence, and finding herself in the silence of the noise. The hum of tools. The focus of the work. The steady rhythm of creating something with her own two hands.
Now, Megan has started her own side hustle making custom handcrafted wood projects, and you can see a sample of her beautiful work in these photos.
She is amazing.
On Memorial Day, we pause to honor those who gave everything in service to our country. We also hold close the responsibility of continuing to care for those who came home carrying stories, strength, sacrifice, and sometimes wounds we cannot see.
Stories like Megan’s remind us why Salute to Carpentry matters. It is not just about learning to use tools or building a project. It is about what happens along the way. Confidence grows. Community forms. Purpose starts to take shape in ways that are deeply personal and sometimes completely unexpected.
For Megan, the workshop became a place to practice, create, and believe in what she could do next.
And honestly, watching that happen is one of the greatest honors of this work.
To learn more about Salute to Carpentry, The Inspired Lumber Project, or how to get involved, please visit inspiredlumberproject.org
