by KATHY HUBBARD / Contributing Writer
| October 22, 2024 1:00 AM
Bonner County Daily Bee
Trying to make a dollar out of ninety-nine cents is what the staff at Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. does on a daily basis.
Working with an extremely tight budget for facility maintenance and improvements, it was a special treat for them to recently receive a generous donation of time, skill and materials to pour a new sidewalk and the footings for a new deck at The Cottage.
The Cottage, as you may know, is the thrift store specializing in household goods that helps PSNI not only add to their limited funds but also teaches the developmentally disabled community they serve to learn about customer service, retail sales and merchandising.
The concrete project, which was completed in record time, was made possible thanks to dedicated volunteers, the PSNI board of directors and Lake Pre-Mix. Kudos to all who worked not only on the project, but behind the scenes to see this project completed.
Moving The Cottage earlier this year was the first phase of PSNI moving the entire campus across North Boyer from their current location. Plans for the city of Sandpoint to realign streets north of town precipitated PSNI’s necessity for purchasing the lot which included the house that’s now The Cottage.
Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. works with roughly 200 local adults with various degrees of disability. Their unique approach allows each individual to achieve their full potential in the areas of employment, independence and overall well-being. Disabilities can include, but are not limited to physical and intellectual disabilities, mental illness, traumatic brain injury and significant learning disability.
Funding for some PSNI programs comes from the state and federal governments. Administration and facilities are dependent on grants and community donations. As they embark on a capital campaign for building the much-needed new facility, every dollar is stretched to the limit. If you can help financially, go to the website www.panhandlespecialneeds.org. To learn how you can get involved, call executive director, Trinity Nicholson at 208-265-0176.
