The Giving Season

Greetings Customers & Friends,

Starting on November 1^st until the end of the year, we will be accepting nonperishable food items as well as toiletry products that will be delivered weekly to the MACC (Manchester Area Conference of Churches) food pantry in our hometown of Manchester. If you can help, it will be most appreciated. I’m shocked and dismayed that 360,000 of our neighbors in CT (42m nationally), are about to lose their SNAP (food assistance) benefits. How did we get here? Most of these people need this assistance desperately, and many have children to feed who will suffer and are not at fault. Food pantries are overwhelmed. Any small contribution helps. I hope that by the time you read this, these funds will be released; however, it looks doubtful. On November 11^th, some of our employees and family members are going to volunteer at The Mid-West Food Bank in Manchester, where we will be re-packing food sent to them in large bulk containers into family-size portions for distribution to churches and food pantries in our area.

Parkerville is coming into our busiest time of year, and we can feel the surge, both with our lumber sales and our walk-in clientele. We have large projects at Yale, and for the first time in years, we are looking at big work at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Only two months until the end of 2025. Less than that until Christmas. It can be a stressful time of year for many people to try to keep up and get everything done. I’m not a shopper, but my wife and life partner, Becky, helps me tremendously. To add to the joy of our holidays, my wife and I just welcomed two new granddaughters into our lives this month, 17 days apart. That’s now four grandchildren. One boy, three girls. Now the challenge is to figure out how to spend more time with them and less time at Parkerville. Not so easy.

Managing a business can be challenging, but 2025 was a particularly challenging year at Parkerville. As a part of our growth strategy, we have implemented a new software operating system, which has been going very well, but is never easy. We are also working with the Small Business Development Center at the University of Connecticut School of Business to refine our SOPs (standard operating procedures) and assist us with our marketing plan. We also continue to work on the expansion of our physical plant. One of our biggest challenges today is recruiting skilled staff. We have posted jobs on The Woodweb, Zip Recruiter, and Indeed, as well as working with two different headhunters, all with disappointing results so far. We are currently looking for a highly skilled project manager, skilled cabinet makers, and inside sales and estimating. Just in case you know someone that you could send our way.

As we move into November and the holiday season, I want to thank you for your continued support of our business and our staff here at Parkerville. I also want to recognize the dedication, hard work, and talents of my team here at Parkerville. They are our most valuable asset, and without them, our success would not be what it is today.

I wish you, your families, and friends a Happy Thanksgiving, and remember to try to help your neighbors and friends who are less fortunate.

I hope to see you at the shop.

Sincerely,

David Harris, President

Parkerville Wood Products, Inc.