Where the Money Goes
100% of proceeds generated by the purchase of our products goes to the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB). EJI works for prison reform, fights racial and economic injustice, and represents people who have been wrongfully convicted or sentenced. ACCFB provides food for lower-income Bay Area residents, which is especially important now due to the economic devastation caused by COVID-19.
Your Impact
Alameda County
Community Food Bank
Due to ACCFB’s bulk purchasing power, every $1 donated helps provide $7 worth of food. (Source)
Therefore, an $80 donation provides $560 worth of food for Bay Area residents.
Equal Justice Initiative
EJI has “won major legal reforms and secured relief, release, or reduced sentences for over 140 condemned people on death row.” (Source)
EJI also has a perfect rating on Charity Navigator.
About Florence Woodworks
With Oakland’s shelter-in-place restrictions, we found ourselves with lots of time to spend in our garage woodshop. We wanted to do something positive for our community, so we figured we would sell some of our projects to raise money. This website was created to expand our reach beyond our closest friends and immediate family.
History
It’s in the Genes
Woodworking has been in our family for quite a while. We can trace it through at least four generations in two branches of Steve’s family. We have a variety of hand tools (some of which we still use) and even a 1924 carpenters’ union card from the McEwen side of the family. We also have a set of framing chisels from the Vazquez side of the family, found in the family hardware store that used to be in Zitacuaro, Mexico.
Many Years of Milling
Steve started making furniture when he was 5 years old. His mom claims this was because it was a socially acceptable way to bang on something. He met Keith Rice, a shop teacher, when he was a student at Montera Middle School, and began to learn some relevant skills.
When Steve's family had to remove a redwood tree that was damaging their home's foundation, Keith offered to mill the wood into planks, with Steve’s help. We still have a small piece of this lumber nearly forty years later.
Steve and Keith milled wood together until Keith passed away in 2006. Steve has continued to use that same milling equipment whenever he finds wood that’s worth the effort. Now Kirsten's dad, Cris, sometimes joins in the milling, and everybody is shamelessly dragged into service when heavy boards need moving.
Makers
Having grown up with a woodshop in the garage, and seeing their dad mill wood, turn bowls, and make furniture, Paul and Matt are now testing their own interest in woodworking. We are a family of “makers” – Steve is a woodworker, Kirsten is a quilter, the grandparents are artists and musicians and engineers. Paul has taken up photography and Matt enjoys welding. Sometimes we get to do creative things. Sometimes it's practical. Sometimes it's both. We hope you enjoy what we make as much as we do.
