Nov. 1, 2005, 8:02AM

Harvest School volunteer builds an education
Lamy uses talents in woodworking to help furnish classrooms
By CARISSA D. MIRE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Though Donna Lamy usually ends her days at 7:30 p.m., this mom and full-time school volunteer packs in plenty of activity.
Lamy, however, is quick to point out she wakes at 3 a.m., hours before her young son or husband are up and in need of her and her time.
"That's my time to read, exercise, whatever," she said. "It's 'me' time."
With all that Lamy contributes to her son's school, The Harvest in The Woodlands, rising at such an early hour makes sense.
"I don't like to take time away from my son or my husband," she said.

Getting involved

Since enrolling 6-year-old Jean-Luc into first grade in February, Lamy has put her talents for sewing, woodworking and cooking to good use.
She has built scores of wooden tot-sized tables, chairs, benches, play stands, shelves, cutting boards and nap dividers.
She's sewn nappers, personalized with the owner's name, and crayon pouches.
Lamy has even created paper lamps and window treatments for the school's classrooms.
Perhaps one of her most interesting creations is a miniature wooden boat the children can rock in like a seesaw.
Flip it over and it becomes a stairstepper for them to play on as well.

Finding talents

Lamy said she discovered her talents for woodworking when she took a woodshopping class, following in the footsteps of her two older brothers.
Her interest came full circle after building a house when she was 20.
She and her husband, Michel, decided to build competing Adirondack chairs after searching for one to buy only to deem them too expensive.
"He made his and I said, 'I can do better than that,' " she said, only half kidding.
She said her woodworking skills exceed her husband's but offered a modest explanation.
"I'm better than him, but only because I have more practice," she said.

Volunteer carpenter

Christine Gautreaux, the school's director of development and public relations, said having Lamy on campus has not only enriched
the pupils' experience but has helped trim The Harvest's budget. The Harvest is a Waldorf school, which offers an arts-oriented curriculum
that emphasizes creativity over repetition of drills.
Gautreaux said Lamy often would offer her woodworking services to build furniture rather
than have the school spend more money than necessary to purchase it.
"She volunteered," she said. "She said, 'I can make that. You're going to pay too much for that.' "
Lamy said woodworking not only appeals to her sense of accomplishment, but she likes that she can produce something for minimal cost.
"I go into a store and I say, 'I can make that,' " she said. "You know you have that ability to make something that someone's making a huge profit off of."

Fundraising work

When it comes to her volunteer work at The Harvest, Lamy not only knows how to save a buck, but she's working to raise a few dollars as well.
Capitalizing on her love of cooking, Lamy has embarked on a yearlong fundraising effort to raise between $20,000 and $30,000.
She has committed to preparing meals, big enough to feed a family of four or six, and selling them on campus.
Lamy said she's targeting mothers who have hectic schedules and not always enough time to whip up a homecooked meal.
"I mainly prep the food and you cook it," she said.
She said she's excited with her progress so far, already having raised nearly $250 in her first month in business.
Lamy said she began her fundraising efforts and volunteer work in Reno, Nev., where her son attended another
Waldrof school. She and her family relocated to Cypress last October.
"I first wanted to do afternoon tea parties for fundraisers," she said, explaining she put on such parties in Reno.
However, after organizing the tea party for Valentine's Day, Lamy said she quickly realized The Harvest needed
a full-time volunteer. From there she slipped into her current role.
"I feel like things here are never done," she said. "It's an endless job." But one she says she thrives on.
"I love woodwork, cooking. I love everything I do," she said. "I don't want money. They couldn't pay me enough to do what I love."

Teaching skills

In addition to her volunteer and fundraising work, Lamy teaches a woodworking class to first-,
second- and third-graders. She said the children all work with hand tools such as drills for safety.
Lamy said teaching her pupils how to work with their hands is a great way to enhance their academic
experience and why she sought out The Harvest for her son's education.
"They learn hands-on here, and there's no better way of learning," Lamy said.

carissa.mire@chron.com

DONNA LAMY
AGE: 39
OCCUPATIONS: School volunteer and full time homemaker.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Volunteers at The Harvest School in The Woodlands; lives in Cypress with husband Michel and 6-years old son Jean-Luc.
FAST FACTS: Can build a wooden table in one hour.
QUICK QUOTES: Of the children she works with, Lamy said, " Each one of them are different and unique."