Leadership Sandpoint and CAL team up to help Kinderhaven
<p>Leadership Sandpoint class members and Kinderhaven employees pose for photo after completing a project to improve the play area at the facility. Pictured, from left, are 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. (Courtesy photo)</p>
SANDPOINT — 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, 11 Leadership Sandpoint class members provided more than 50 hours of hard labor, on what was the hottest day of the summer. More than 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-foot by 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!”
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 Leadership Sandpoint 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 learn the roles and responsibilities of a citizen-leaders in the community.
For more information about the program, contact the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce at 263-2161 or leadership@sandpointchamber.com.