Creations hosting fundraiser at Cedar St. Bridge

“In no other place in America would this place have any vacancies,” said local resident Shery Meekings of Sandpoint’s Cedar Street Bridge.

Since water damage forced tenants from the building almost 2 years ago, the Bridge has remained largely vacant.  Last month MeadowBrook Home and Gift moved its store to the Bridge and Meekings, who has an art gallery on the second floor, is doing her part to transform the remaining part of the Bridge into a center for all members of the community to enjoy.

She has formed a non-profit organization called Creations, which includes a performance center, art classes and soon an indoor playground for children of all ages.  But the reality is it all takes money.

This entire week people can come to the bridge, enjoy an evening of fun with their family and help make Meekings’ vision a reality. 

“We have a complete planetarium that fits 20 people at a time,” said Meekings.  “We will present the story of salvation from the constellation.” 

She explains that people will first watch a power point presentation and then will go into the planetarium and be able to view all four quadrants of the sky. 

“It’s the entire story of good versus evil,” said Meekings.  “And good prevails.  It gives me hope.” 

Following will be an opportunity for both children and adults to do a craft and make a constellation finder.

Dessert will be served which those in attendance can enjoy while listening to the various choirs that will be performing each night.

Donations will be accepted otherwise all the activities are free except for a nominal $2 fee for the craft.

To raise funds, the group is also hosting a silent auction which will end Saturday evening.  Included in the auction are custom built and crafted birdhouses which have been made by area youth who attend the Sandpoint Teen Center.

They are also selling Christmas swags which people may purchase to decorate their homes for the holidays.

“All the proceeds will go to benefit the indoor play area,” said Meekings.

She and her volunteers will also go door to door to area businesses and homes asking if people would like to donate to the community play area.

Meekings adds it is vital in an area where weather can be a limiting factor in outdoor play, to provide a space where families can gather and interact.

“This has prevention written all over it,” she said.

The space for the play area along with the insurance was donated by the owners of Cedar Street Bridge, John Gillham and Jeff Bond.  Located on the first floor, it will have space for children of all ages to play on the structures that Meekings hopes to purchase soon.

One of the structures is a kids’ locomotive which includes two slides and a developmentally appropriate climber for preschool aged children.

“We need to raise $10,000 to start,” said Meekings.  “That will get us up and running and give us a pretty good start.”

Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity as well as area churches have stepped forward and offered to help construct some of the playground. 

“We have a lot of local support thus far,” said Meekings. “If we can come together as a community, we can make this happen fairly quickly.”

Information: Shery Meekings, (208) 304-7384, or sherymeekings@live.com; or online at http://loopah.org/creationsatsandpointinc/contact-us.html