Custom Pens


In 2018 Bridging started to engage veterans in making custom pens on a wood lathe.  In a 2-3 hour class vets make (and keep for free) a beautiful custom pen.

Featured video:  Making wooden pens

One of our beginning woodworking projects is creating a wooden pen.  The video above shows both veterans and volunteers working on a mini lathe to shape, smooth and finish the wood, then inserting the components to make a finished pen.


What we make: New lives

The Veterans Furniture Project will produce furniture and woodcrafts, but those items will be secondary to our main mission:  Providing a meaningful experience for veterans, especially those who are disabled or who have been unemployed for a long time.  The workshop aims to engage veterans in a workplace setting, teach them new skills and instill confidence.

Where we work

The VFP woodworking shop is located at Bridging’s Mesa warehouse in four 8-by-40-foot metal shipping containers. The containers were placed on a large cement pad and have been modified and joined together around a central courtyard.  The woodshop is stocked with basic woodworking tools — such as power saws, sanders and planers — and some advanced woodworking equipment — such as a computer-controlled routing system.

Weekly Classes

Each week we conduct a 2 hour pen making class ay Victory Place in Phoenix.  We have 2 beginner classes per month and 2 open workshop classes for vets only, for more info contact Jim@bridgingaz.org

How about a pen from Grand Canyon University’s Basketball court

One of the primary materials we use is flooring, new and reclaimed.  The VFP has received some unusual donations, such as a significant portion of the maple basketball floor when Grand Canyon University renovated its arena.  The Adirondack chair shown below is made of wood flooring.

How YOU can help

There are many ways you can help assure the success of the Veterans Furniture Project:

  • Donate to Bridging AZ (see our donations page) and designate your donation for the VFP
  • Donate tools or materials (use our contact us)
  • Volunteer to help at the workshop, especially if you have woodworking skills (contact Jim)

Are you a veteran?  Interested in a job or volunteering?

The Veterans Furniture Project is focused on helping veterans who are disabled, unemployed or facing other difficult circumstances.  We normally work through the Veterans Administration and social service agencies to identify veterans who may benefit through their participation in the project.  If you’re a veteran and would like to be considered for one of our workshop positions, use our contact us to send us a note.

We’re grateful for their support

Bridging couldn’t have made the Veterans Furniture Workshop a reality without significant support from foundations, businesses, the community and individual donors.  Contributors to the project include the following:

  • Intel Corporation (via two Encore Fellowships), $50,000
  • The Arizona Veterans Donation Fund, $12,500 and $20,000 grants
  • Arizona Cardinals Charities, $5,000 grant
  • The Sundt Foundation, $2,500 and $1,000 grants
  • The Boeing Employees Community Fund of Arizona, $3,000 grant
  • Safeway Foundation, $2,000 grant
  • Executive Council Charities, $1,000 grant
  • BobsCNC, in-kind donation of two computer-controlled router systems
  • Grand Canyon University, basketball flooring donation