OTC offers welding repairs to community

By Steve Koehler

Bring it by, drag in it, haul it over.

If you’ve got something that needs welding, you can bring it to Ozarks Technical Community College Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Welding Lab, located on the north side of the Industry Transportation and Technology Center, near the corner of Central Street and National Avenue.

It’s the college’s second-annual Community Welding Day, a day set aside to give something back to the community.

On Saturday, residents can have their broken lawn furniture, lawn mower decks, wheelbarrows, barbecue grills, tables, gates and trellises repaired. Items made of carbon steel, aluminum and stainless steel can be repaired.

Student volunteers from OTC’s advanced welding class will make the repairs.

There will be no charge for the repairs but donations will be accepted for the Bikers for Babies fundraiser for the March of Dimes.

 “We end up receiving more that way than if we had a set charge,” said Jim Bridwell, a welding instructor and advisor.

The idea for the outreach event came from a student in one of Bridwell’s classes who wanted to have a fund-raiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Last year’s event raised $400.

“It was something I wanted to do for a long time,” Bridwell said. “The students did top notch work for the people who showed up and the repairs they made. We didn’t have to turn anyone away.”

Turnout was fair last year but Bridwell is hoping more publicity with bring out more residents.

“We’re trying to get the word out. We want everyone to bring their broken stuff,” he said.

 The event is sponsored by Lincoln Electric and it gives students a chance to gain more hands-on experience before they enter the workforce.  Two student organizations, Skills USA and the student chapter of the American Welding Society, will be represented at the event. For more information, call 447-8119.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College.