Father-son duo create crosses to spread positivity
By Kirsten Stokes
Planks of wood lie dormant in a garage, but every day, a father-son duo work together to transform them into symbols of encouragement and purpose.
The father, Robert, and son, Marty Schnabel started a project in 2016, mailing and delivering handmade crosses all over the country to places like California, New York, Texas and local Catholic schools. The purpose: to spread a little light and pass the time.
“My neighbor gave me a foam white cross that her daughter-in-law made for the top of their Christmas tree. I thought maybe I could do a little better if I made them out of wood. So, I started making them out of wood, and I would get my wood from construction site dumpsters,” Robert said.
Every day, the two start in the garage as Marty transforms the planks into crosses and spends time drilling holes, ridging and gluing four separate pieces together.
“It takes me from start to finish, probably an hour for about five crosses. So it doesn’t take very long, but we do it Monday through Friday,” Marty said.
Once Marty’s finished, he sends about five crosses inside to his dad to stain and conduct wire through for function.
“There’s a capacitor that goes on one side and a resistor that goes on the other side. Then I cut the bulbs, insert them and connect all the wires. After I get that done, I put the base on, and then I put a backing on,” Robert said.
While they use their handiness to make the crosses and pass the time, it’s more about the bond they create.
“It’s a fun time to spend with my dad and it’s really worthwhile because a lot of people that we pass them out to it’s just unbelievable,” Marty said.
As they finish making each cross, the pair are reminded of the way they made people feel by looking through four binders filled with thank you letters.
“I’m grateful that they send them. Some of the remarks that they made almost make you cry,” Robert said delightedly.
As of Oct. 9, 2024, 1,371 crosses have been made. At 92, Robert isn’t sure how many more the two will be able to make, but he says that’s neither here nor there. The goal is to keep spreading the light for as long as he can and to Marty, that continues through generations.
“They love them. They’ll give them to their family, pass it down to the kids and they keep them on all the time,” Marty said.
Robert and Marty will keep making the crosses and both have seen that when each one lights up, a smile is in place and a letter is on its way.
