Do you have sensitive papers for your home or business that need to be shredded? Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. can help! Not only will they come right to your door and bring you a bin, they help to employee special needs adults across the Idaho Panhandle.
For Panhandle Special Needs, document shredding protects confidential information while giving people a chance to learn, earn a paycheck, and build independence.
Everybody has paperwork they’d rather see disappear; old bank statements, outdated files, documents containing information that shouldn’t end up in the recycling bin. At Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. (PSNI), making that paper disappear creates an opportunity for something else to take shape: meaningful work.
Founded in Sandpoint in 1975, PSNI serves more than 200 participants annually through programs including Life Skills, Adult Day Health, employment services, and homeless services for people with disabilities starting at the age of 18. They can even help with the transition from high school into the adult world.
That work that Panhandle Special Needs does extends into Boundary County, too. Approximately 20 participants come from Bonners Ferry and the surrounding area utilize the shredding service at Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. PSNI is the only developmental disability agency between the two counties, giving local individuals and families access to services closer to home.
In 2008, changes and uncertainty in Medicaid funding prompted PSNI to explore sustainable ways to generate revenue while creating productive work for participants. Commercial shredding offered both: businesses needed secure document disposal, and participants had an opportunity to learn, contribute, and earn.
Today, 18 participants take part in the shredding operation, sorting documents, preparing materials, and operating equipment with staff support when needed.
The work came first. The revenue helps sustain the work.
Real Work. Real Responsibilities. Real Paychecks.
Staff help participants do as much of the job independently as possible, offering anything from a reminder to a demonstration or hands-on assistance. The goal is to build skills through real work, not simply have someone complete tasks for them.
Work Services Manager Kim Derr recently saw that learning unfold in an ordinary workday.
One participant noticed his shred bag was full. He removed it, cleaned his work area, swept the floor, and returned to his job—all on his own.
There was just one small problem.
He forgot to put a new bag in the machine.
How many times have you taken the full garbage bag out of your kitchen trash can, tossed it in the bin outside, and then discovered—usually at the worst possible moment—that you never put a fresh bag in? It’s one of those little things that happens to all of us.
The fix was simple, but what happened before the mistake was worth noticing. He recognized a problem, took responsibility for his workspace, and got back to work without waiting for someone to tell him what to do next. He just missed a step along the way.
That’s what learning independence looks like sometimes. Not getting everything right the first time, but recognizing what needs to be done, taking responsibility, and learning as you go.
And sometimes, just like the rest of us, you still forget the trash bag.
From the Shredder to What’s Next
Shredding can be a steppingstone to other PSNI work opportunities, including ACE Cardboard, The Cottage, The Greenhouse, and jobs with community employers supported by a PSNI job coach. Over the past two years, five participants moved into ACE Cardboard and two transitioned directly into community employment.
The paychecks matter, too. Earnings can help cover everyday expenses, supplement Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or go toward something a participant has chosen to save for, like a laptop or a Wii Fit.
The purchase itself isn’t the point. Having earned the money is.
Shredding accommodates people with a wide range of abilities and support needs. Someone who isn’t ready for a job in the community can still contribute to a real workplace, develop practical skills, and earn a paycheck.
Anyone can shred. For someone building toward greater independence, that opportunity can be a pretty big deal.
Got Paper? PSNI Can Help.
PSNI serves 14 commercial shredding customers across the region, including the Idaho Department of Lands and Kaniksu Health Services, which has a location in Bonners Ferry.
Businesses receive a 33-gallon locking security bin and call PSNI when it’s ready for pickup. Commercial shredding costs $20 per full bin, plus a $10 pickup fee making it just $30.
Individuals can bring personal documents to PSNI at 1424 N. Boyer Ave. in Sandpoint for 50 cents per pound or $5 per standard banker box.
To arrange a pickup or ask about personal shredding, call PSNI at 208-263-7022 or visit panhandlespecialneeds.org.
Your old paperwork gets a proper send-off. Someone gets the opportunity to learn, work, and earn.
That’s a pretty good return on a pile of paper.
