Some people are going to go out into the shop and build something every day no matter what. John Roccanova is one of those people. He realized that his family’s needs were covered when it came to his woodworking and decided to put his talents to use making something to help others. 

Roccanova and his wife, Jean, were touched by stories they had read about overcrowded schools in Africa. They decided to hold a crafts sale with the goal of sponsoring one teacher in Kenya, to help reduce class sizes. Since then the couple has sold John’s woodcrafts to raise money for educational, agricultural, and environmental projects throughout the Busia district of Kenya. They’ve also donated craft-sale money to victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and to a Kenyan student, to cover her high-school and university fees.

Each year a new design is featured for sales at the North East Community Center in Millerton NY and at the school where he and his wife teach. This year it was The Peace Train and was a big hit with buyers. This year he raised another $7,500, which will go toward creating a computer lab with 12 stations in the Igero, Kenya, school. Altogether they have raised and donated more than $38,000 for children in third world countries.

For the upcoming year, Roccanova will be raising money for the construction of a building for Grow Against Poverty – Kenya. This will have office and program space for community activities.

To reach out to John about donating or doing something similar, email him at [email protected].

Launch Gallery