The Craftsmen for Kids Story

Craftsmen for Kids (CFK) started in 2010 in Hebron, Ohio. Since that time, members consist mostly of retirees whose woodworking passion has become a lifeline for Head Start teachers and others serving “at risk children”. The educational, sensory, visual, and fun items we make enhance learning for children. We listen to requests and ask teachers and administrators for suggestions of wooden items benefiting the learning, coordination, socializing and play for children. 

While governmental funds pay for a large portion of funding for Head Start and similar programs, there may not be much left over for the learning tools the centers need to get children ready to thrive in school. 

Craftsmen for Kids creates high quality, hardwood learning tools for Head Start classrooms, shelters for battered women, the nursery at the Ohio women's prison, a camp for seriously ill children, and similar facilities serving at-risk children.

We have made and donated countless quality hardwood learning tools which, saving these programs an overwhelming amount of money if they had purchased the same items from the customary school supply catalogs.  In addition to the learning potential, Head Start programs use the retail value of our educational toys as in-kind donations.

As of 09/11/2025 we have made the following deliveries:

• Total Ohio Counties Served: 53

• Total Programs:     22

• Total Classrooms:     219

• Total Deliveries:   250

• Total Items delivered: 22,000+

• Total Value:     $1,181,000+

Here are the 53 of the above 88 Ohio counties that have been served by Craftsmen for Kids:

Adams (ABCAP includes Adams & Brown Counties)

Ashland (Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Services includes Knox, Holmes, Coshocton & Ashland Counties)

Ashtabula (ACCAA)

Athens (HAPCAP includes Hocking, Athens & Perry Counties)

Belmont (CAC of Belmont County)

Brown  (ABCAP includes Adams & Brown Counties)

Butler (Miami Valley Child Development Centers)

Carroll (HARTICUS includes Harrison, Carrroll and Tuscarawas Counties)

Clark (Miami Valley Child Development Centers includes Montgomery, Madison & Clark Counties)

Clermont (Child Focus Head Start of Clermont County)

Clinton (Clinton County Community Action Program)

Columbiana (CAA of Columbiana County)

Coshocton (Coshocton County Head Start)

Coshocton (Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Services includes Knox, Holmes, Coshocton & Ashland Counties)

Crawford (OHCAC includes Crawford, Marion, Morrow & Richland Counties)

Delaware (LEADS includes Delaware, Licking and Union Counties)

Fairfield (FAIRCAA)

Fayette (CAC)

Franklin

Gallia (Heart of the Valley includes Gallia & Meigs Counties)

Greene (Council on Rural Services includes Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Preble, Shelby & Van Wert Counties)

Guernsey (GMN Tri-County includes Guernsey, Monroe & Noble Counties)

Harrison (HARTICUS includes Harrison, Carrroll and Tuscarawas Counties)

Hocking (HAPCAP includes Hocking, Athens & Perry Counties)

Hamilton (HCESC)

Highland (HCCAO) 

Holmes (Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Services includes Knox, Holmes, Coshocton & Ashland Counties)

Jackson (JCVAI - includes the city of Wellston & Jackson County)

Jefferson (OVEC Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative)

Knox (Knox County Head Start)

Knox (Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Services includes Knox, Holmes, Coshocton & Ashland Counties)

Lawrence (Ironton-Lawrence County Area CAO)

Licking (LEADS includes Delaware, Licking and Union Counties)

Madison (Miami Valley Child Development Centers includes Montgomery, Madison & Clark Counties)

Marion (OHCAC includes Crawford, Marion, Morrow & Richland Counties)

Medina (Community Action Wayne/Medina includes Medina and Wayne Counties)

Meigs (Heart of the Valley includes Gallia & Meigs Counties)

Monroe (GMN Tri-County includes Guernsey, Monroe & Noble Counties)

Montgomery (Miami Valley Child Development Centers includes Montgomery, Madison & Clark Counties)

Morgan (Jane Edwards Center)

Morrow (OHCAC includes Crawford, Marion, Morrow & Richland Counties)

Muskingum (CCRI)

Noble (GMN Tri-County includes Guernsey, Monroe & Noble Counties)

Perry (HAPCAP includes Hocking, Athens & Perry Counties)

Pickaway (Pickaway Community Action)

Pike (CAC of Pike County)

Richland (OHCAC includes Crawford, Marion, Morrow & Richland Counties) 

Ross (Ross County Community Action Commission - Child Development & Family Service)

Scioto (CAO)

Tuscarawas (HARTICUS includes Harrison, Carrroll and Tuscarawas Counties)

Union (LEADS includes Delaware, Licking and Union Counties) 

Vinton County (JCVAI - includes the city of Wellston & Jackson County)

Warren (WCCS)

Washington (Jane Edwards Center)

Wayne (Community Action Wayne/Medina includes Medina and Wayne Counties)

Craftsmen for Kids “Mission Statement”

Craftsmen for Kids is a not-for-profit organization.  The mission of Craftsmen for Kids (CFK) is to make quality wooden learning tools, and other items, that enhance the learning abilities of preschool children.  As such, CFK primarily selects the more disadvantaged Head Start Programs in the southeastern portion of Ohio, commonly referred to as the Appalachian area.  CFK also selects some other not-for-profit agencies such as women’s shelters, adoption agencies, Ohio Women’s penal institutions, etc.

Craftsmen for Kids is dedicated to producing and delivering these items utilizing donated money for building materials. Monies are not spent on its members for such items as transportation expenses, educational items, normal workshop tools, or normal workshop expenses such as heating, cooling, and electrical.

To ensure the safety of the items CFK makes, they are tested and certified to comply with the standards established by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) of the USA.

Craftsmen for Kids is a 501(c)(3) devoted to benefiting Head Start programs in Ohio. CFK consists of folks who want to make a difference in the lives of children. There are no financial costs. The learning tools, fun and play items are donated to Head Starts, and use them as in-kind giving.