Airgas, the American Welding Society and WESCO Gas and Welding Supply have helped a Lousiana High School welding program get back on its feet after historic floods damaged its school district in August.
Airgas — No. 7 on Industrial Distribution's Big 50 List — donated $30,000 worth of supplies to Denham Springs High School welding program, located in Livingston, LA. The items included personal protective equipment, tools, an assortment of rods and a plasma cutting machine. The American Welding Society's Mobile, AL section and WESCO Gas and Welding Supply (Prichard, AL) also combined to donate another $7,000 worth of supplies.
According to a press release, American Welding Society (AWS) District 9 director Mike Skiles said he became aware of the need at Denham Springs from his grandson, who is a sophomore enrolled in the school’s welding program.
"He was excited about getting back into the school after the holidays, but then he came home disappointed that the school didn’t have the welding supplies it needed for the students to really do the projects they wanted to do," Skiles said. "That’s when I made a few calls, and before I knew it, the needed materials were on their way to Denham Springs."
The release said Skiles, AWS members, WESCO and Airgas visited with students in the program and faculty over Jan. 19-20 to present the donations.
Below are pictures of students and faculty of the Denham Springs High School welding program with the donated supplies, courtesy of Livingston Parish Schools' Facebook page:
