The high school students are working with a Knotty Oak Middle School student group, Students Against Vandalism Everywhere (SAVE), to build mailboxes to replace those that have been vandalized throughout town.

"The students used their carpentry knowledge to design and construct solid pressure-treated mailbox posts and used the Internet to determine U.S. Postal installation guidelines," said Gene Dufault, a woodworking teacher at Coventry High School. "I feel this project is important by first, connecting the students to a need in their community, but it also allows the students to use their skills in a real-world situation and, if the students themselves are helping someone out who is a victim of vandalism, we believe they will be less likely to allow vandalism to occur while they are around, knowing what hard work it is doing these projects."

The students currently have built eight mailboxes and they have the funds to make 100, Dufault said.

"We really learned a lot from this project," said Alex Carley, a sophomore. "First we had to come up with a design and actually build it. We had to make sure it fit all the specifications the law requires for the height of a mailbox and how far away from the street it is. Soon we will be going out and putting up the mailboxes. We designed a tool chest to bring with us. We all worked really great together. Everyone had their own job. This project really put to use the skills we have learned throughout the course."

SAVE is a group of 23 middle school students and two teacher advisers who develop campaigns to educate other students about vandalism with the goal of decreasing its occurrence in Coventry.

The group received a three-year, $60,000 grant from the Rhode Island Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service. SAVE will be using this money for several projects, said Charles Blanchette, a teacher adviser for the group.

"We wanted to expand the student role from just identifying where vandalism occurs and trying to prevent it through education to also trying to remediate the problems, when practical, by empowering students and vesting them in the solution," Blanchette said. "Mailbox smashing is a sport to some vandals in central and western Coventry."

Blanchette said he and Dufault came up with the idea to have the carpentry students use some of the funds from the grant to build new mailboxes for seniors or handicapped citizens who either can't afford new ones or are physically unable to repair them.

"The U.S. Postal Service can't deliver to boxes on the ground on rural routes, so some seniors may not be able to get their prescription medications or social security checks when they need them," Blanchette said. "That could be more than an inconvenience, it could be fatal."

Blanchette said the group used about $1,500 for materials, tools, a power auger, and cement.

"The kids have done a wonderful job and are really excited going out into the community and installing them," Blanchette said.

The mailboxes have been advertised in the Coventry Senior Center's monthly newsletter and seniors who need new mailboxes are encouraged to apply, Blanchette said.

"As members of Youth Crime Watch of America, Coventry High School students will replace your shattered mailbox and post with a sturdy, custom-made, weather-resistant mailbox, and solid wood post absolutely free," a flier for seniors states.

Blanchette said seniors interested in a new mailbox must report the vandalism to the Coventry Police at 826-1100. A Coventry teacher will then call or e-mail the senior to schedule a time for the students to remove the old mailbox and replace it with a new one. To schedule a mailbox replacement, the group will need the senior's name and address, along directions to their home, a phone number, and the best time to reach the senior. All Coventry High School students will have identification cards and be supervised at the time of the installation, and they will have their own tools and equipment. They will need access to water.

"Senseless vandalism hurts everyone," Blanchette said. "Together, we can stop vandalism and make Coventry a better place for all our citizens."