When the pandemic hit, suddenly everyone had to find a way to adjust to an entirely different world.

Especially students. Schools were closed and many kids were faced with having to learn remotely at home. But not everyone had the same ability to do that as easily as others did.

One Iowa teacher noticed a big problem for these children – not having a desk to work from at home.

Nate Evans, who teaches 7th-grade literacy, realized that not every kid had the same access to desks, which would allow them a better spot for learning, as well as doing homework.

After noticing how many kids were working from their beds, or dining tables, he knew he had to help.

So he launched, ‘Woodworking with a Purpose.’ “It’s for kids who have absolutely nothing to kids who have everything they’ve wanted but don’t have this space because it wasn’t available,” he told “Good Morning America.” 

Somebody had to provide it and I thought, ‘Why not me?'”

Nate Evans stands besides desks that his nonprofit, Woodworking With a Purpose, built for students. Photo courtesy of Woodworking With a Purpose

At first, Evans said he used his own money to buy the supplies and then build the desks. But he realized he needed help, so he posted on Facebook, and immediately others wanted to help.

They increased their goal to 2,020 desks (marking the year of Covid in 2020). He planned to raise at least $30,000 to fund the project. Each desk he makes cost roughly $25 to make.

Once the desks are finished, local teachers come and pick them up to give to their students.

“I became a teacher to help kids. That was it. It wasn’t for the summer breaks,” Evans said. “I volunteer wherever I can. I want to see them learn and grow … learn and grow in my classroom … I want to see them learn and grow at home, too.”

Evans said that when at-home learning started, teachers were told to tell the students it was important to have their own workspace for school. “As a public school teacher, we were told if they had an online class, they should have their own space,” he said. “I thought that was really unfair.”

That realization is what spurred him to start his project.

Evans said he just wanted to “serve God and others by building community one piece of furniture at a time.” 

“The very first day I made up my mind to do this, I went to the store with about $300 to spend,” Evans said. “I spent about $300 and when I checked my Venmo that day, that’s almost exactly what I had collected (from donations) that day. It was just meant to be that we were here to help these families.”

Volunteers work on desks for students. Photo courtesy of Woodworking With a Purpose

People from the community also donated woodworking equipment, gift cards to hardware stores and more. Local businesses contributed to his project, as well. Since beginning his project, Evans and his team of 50 volunteers have built more than 2,100 desks for kids.

Evans doesn’t plan on stopping at desks. Last year, Woodworking With a Purpose began to make hope chests for foster children. They also donated 100 bookcases as well as more than 400 books to families.

The gratefulness of the families, Evans said, has been rewarding.

“So many people say the desks have changed their lives.”

Watch below for a look at the kind man and his amazing project to help kids learn.

Sources: Good Morning America | Upworthy