((PKG))  BUILDING DESKS   
((Banner:  Desks During the Pandemic))  
((Reporter:  Faiza Elmasry))  
((Camera:  Mike Burke)) 
((Map:  Chantilly, Virginia))  
((Main character:  1 male)) 
((Sub characters:  2 female)) 
((NATS)) 
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))   
My name is Colby Samide.  I'm 17 years old and I'm a junior 
at Woodgrove High School.  Right now, we're at Moss 
Building and Design in Chantilly.  They've offered me space 
for a build day.  
((NATS)) 
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))   
We're building 50 desks.  30 of them are going to schools 
and 20 are going to kids in need who reached out to me 
personally.   
((Courtesy:  Desks by Dads - Jess Al Berrellez)) 
I came across a group called Desks by Dads in Maryland.  
It’s a group of parents who are creating desks for children in 
need and giving them through the school system.  I saw the 
idea and I've wanted to give back for a while and now after 
moving here, because I love this community and I figured 
this was a great way to do it, to use my skills. 
((NATS)) 
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))   
It's super fun working with wood and seeing what I can 
create and I really enjoy it.   
((Courtesy: Colby Samide)) 
When I first put out my Facebook page saying what I was 
going to do, it was, it kind of went semi viral in the 
community overnight.   
((Courtesy: Colby Samide)) 
Everyone just kept re-sharing it.  So, donations were 
plentiful.  People have been really generous with it.  So, 
thankfully, donations have covered everything.  So, that's 
awesome.  I'm just really glad the community has been able 
to fund this project. 
((NATS)) 
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations, 
Moss Building & Design))  
I think that Colby is doing a wonderful thing.   
((Courtesy:  Desks for Distance))  
We noticed that there was a new organization that popped 
up on Facebook.   
((NATS))   
((Voice of Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))   
Hey everybody, this is Colby Samide from Desks for 
Distance and today I'm going to be showing you how to build 
this simple yet good looking desk.   
((NATS)) 
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations, 
Moss Building & Design))  
We realized very quickly that this was something that we 
could get involved in because he had received so many 
orders for desks that he couldn't fulfill them quickly enough.  
Desks are hard to get these days.  Once most of the schools 
in the area turned to virtual learning, we kind of pounced 
upon this idea to do a Build-a-Palooza as we call it for today.  
We have a wonderful relationship with Lowe's Home 
Improvement.  They provided all the materials.  We provided 
a lot of the labor to put the desks together are most MOSS 
employees and we're asking for volunteers all day long to 
help sand and finish the desks. 
((NATS)) 
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations, 
Moss Building & Design))   
And we also had our lunch catered by Sultry Soul Foods.  
((NATS: 
Start here, then go here.))   
((NATS)) 
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations, 
Moss Building & Design))   
We reached out to My Guys Moving and Storage and they're 
helping to deliver the desks to those who have reached out 
to ask Colby for the desks.   
((NATS: 
Slide in, perfect.))   
((NATS))  
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))   
Delivering the desk is the best part.   
((Courtesy:  Colby Samide)) 
I try to deliver them whenever I can which just makes me 
feel really good when I see the face of the parents or the 
kids when they see the desk.   
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))  
((Courtesy:  Colby Samide)) 
Ever since I can remember, little toddler loved to build things 
and sort of tinker around with how things would work or fit 
together. 
((NATS)) 
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))  
He has built me several things.  He was sweet.  He surprised 
me for my birthday with a daybed, bought the materials and 
made it in the garage.  I think he's learned so much just 
when he started doing this, I guess, three-and-a-half weeks 
ago….. 
((NATS: Colby Samide 
So now, we have to position the frame on top of the board.))   
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))  
((Courtesy:  Colby Samide)) 
…..which is the initial wanting to really, you know, give back 
and help a few families if he could.  
((NATS)) 
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))   
((Courtesy:  Colby Samide)) 
That's what my main goal is right now, to try to get the 
message out and have people recreate this idea in their 
communities. 
((NATS))