Kinderhaven
has a new base for its play area, thanks to the Leadership Sandpoint Class of 2012-2014
and a generous grant from the Community Assistance League. Leadership
Sandpoint, a program of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, has a goal
to motivate leaders toward greater involvement in our community and make a
direct impact through projects. Assisting Kinderhaven with a much needed
upgrade was a proud moment for the current Leadership Sandpoint class.
On
July 2, eleven Leadership Sandpoint class members provided over 50 hours of
hard labor, on what was the hottest day of the summer. Over 10,000 pounds of
rubberized mulch was moved and spread. A forklift donated by Sun Rental of
Sandpoint assisted, but each bag then needed to be hoisted over a fence and
another 50 feet to the 43 x 22 foot play area. After the site was cleaned of
old mulch and prepped with weed-proof fabric and new edging, then the new mulch
was spread.
The rubberized playground mulch provides a safe play surface,
doesn't decompose and never freezes, which means it will be around for a long
time. Additionally, the 130 feet of new
rubberized edging replaced the old decaying wood edging, making the play area safer
and keeps the new mulch in place.
“This project is especially meaningful to Kinderhaven because our
play area offers the wonderful opportunity for unstructured play, which is
extremely therapeutic for the children in our care,” stated Phyllis Horvath,
Kinderhaven Executive Director. “Abuse leaves deep wounds in its
aftermath, affecting areas such as brain development, self-concept, and the
ability to form healthy attachments. Play is so essential for the
development of all children, and especially so for ours. It helps them
begin to heal and, at the same time, have fun — just getting to be kids!”
continued Horvath.
The project was funded by a 2013 grant from the Community
Assistance League, which also provided a 2012 grant for the swings, monkey
bars, and rings, in the play area. So the entire play area was funded,
built, and finished by community members.
“This project was a great opportunity for the Leadership Sandpoint
Class to work with Kinderhaven to provide an important improvement to their
facilities,’ stated the Class President Eric Grace. “The programs offered by Kinderhaven are
vital to our community, so it was great that we could help out in this small
way.”
Leadership Sandpoint is a program which identifies leaders in the Greater Sandpoint area and provides them an
interactive experience to gain an understanding of the roles and
responsibilities of a citizen-leader in our multi-faceted community. Each class
selects one service project to be completed during the program and fundraises
to benefits their project or a cause the class chooses to support. For more
information, contact the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce at 263-2161 or leadership@sandpointchamber.com.
Photo: Leadership Sandpoint class and Kinderhaven
employees pose for photo at Kinderhaven taken after the project was completed.
In photo from left to right; Matt Diel, Daniel Moering, Stacey Darley, Crystal
Gunter, Mandy Evans, Geraldine Lewis, Karen Robinson, Phyllis Horvath, Tami
Stormo, Darcy Bilbo, Eric Grace and Steve Holt.
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