COLUMBIA, South Carolina — The Babcock Center Woodshop has been been putting a little love in making items in the Midlands community for over 40 years.
The Babcock Center, "empowers people with lifelong disabilities to enjoy life by promoting abilities and respecting choice."
Sherrie Wood has been working with the Babcock Center for 33 years.
"The woodshop has been in operation probably close to 40 years. The motivation of the individuals wanting to work, to be independent, to be treated normal just like you and I are," said Wood.
Next week, they will have 11 people working at the shop. They have several hundred customers from North Carolina to Batesburg-Leesville.
The business cuts and creates bundles of wood and stakes for their customers depending on what they request.
Corey Timbrs has been working in the woodshop for the past three years. He knows when he's inside the building, it's all business.
"Whenever there's a customer coming by, we have their order put next to the door and put it next to the wall," said Timbrs.
Inside the shop, workflow is flowing like a well-oiled machine. Wood says everyone goes through the safety training before getting to work.
"It's skilled work. They are very safety conscious operating all the power saws. Once you train one of the individuals, then they can come and train your eye. They take such pride in their work," explained Wood.
Tim Shumpert, Special Projects Manager with Lexington County Public Works says he's been doing business with the Babcock Center for as long as he can remember.
"I've been doing with them myself for almost twenty years now," said Shumpert. "The fact that we get good quality products is why we just continue to do business here. It's been a good relationship for us."
If you would like more information on the Babcock Center, click here.