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The company's Elk Rapids location is also extending its generosity through a program in which 1 percent of purchases will be given to either Lakeland or Mill Creek elementary schools.

Lakeland PTO president Brandi Hintz said the organization had been stowing materials on the school's stage and budgeted $1,500 for a storage unit. The group looked at kits from Home Depot but was encouraged by principal Terry Starr to approach Marty Raymond, manager at Alden Lumber in Elk Rapids, and Kevin Sempert, an owner and president of Alden Lumber, about the project.

Raymond said he drew up some plans and contacted Sempert about donating the materials.

"We said, 'We're in the community, we've got kids in the schools, it's a good cause,' " he said.

Alden Lumber gave about $1,800 worth of materials, and Raymond and local contractor Don Hoezee supplied the labor. The PTO was only asked to pay for the $300 door, which Hintz said had to be ordered.

Hintz said she's not sure what the PTO will do with the money saved on the project, "but they will be well spent."

She's thankful for support from Alden Lumber and the community, without which she said Elk Rapids wouldn't have such a great educational program.

"We've been so fortunate," she said. "Elk Rapids and the surrounding community has been wonderful to our children and our schools."

Raymond, who has two boys in the first and fourth grades, said Alden Lumber was glad to help.

"It isn't often a lumber yard can do something for the school, but were happy to do our part," he said.

The company's Elk Rapids location is also trying out a new program that will help it give back to the community. As at some area businesses and grocery stores, receipts from Alden Lumber may be turned in to designate 1 percent of the sale back to one of two schools. Proceeds will benefit either Lakeland or Mill Creek elementary school, and all one needs to do to participate is submit receipts to those schools' PTOs or Alden Lumber.

Raymond said the program is too new to estimate what the proceeds will be, but they could be significant if a shopper buys an item like a house package and sends that receipt back to the schools.

He said it's a way for the community to support both the schools and a local business.

"It's new to us, but we thought it would be a good program for all parties," he said.