Sylvie Paillard
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A generous donation from a woodworker will help spread joy this month to local kids. Howe Sound Women's Centre director Melany Crowston said her organization is overjoyed to be receiving a hand crafted driftwood play structure, at very little cost, for children involved in the centre's Stopping the Violence program.
"I have seen it once," said Crowston. "It is fabulous."
Jeff Campbell of Spiritwood Furniture offered to build the structure after hearing that the centre was planning on spending a small grant on a new prefabricated jungle gym.
"I said I can do one for you that will be ten times what that is," said Campbell. "For its value, it will definitely be in much better shape."
The project began with a modest design, but as things progressed, Campbell said his enthusiasm continued to grow.
"I just went a little hog wild and now it's turning into something that is a lot, lot more than what I even thought it would be in the end," he said.
Two Spiritwood employees helped Campbell with the growing project, and now with the structure almost completed, Campbell estimated the cost of the project to be between $8,000 and $10,000. Not a bad deal considering the centre gave Campbell $1,500, which was as much as it could afford for a play set. But the cost isn't important, according to Campbell.
"As I kept going on it, it was the forefront of my thoughts that it's for kids coming out of some pretty tough situations," he said. "To have something like that definitely helps to make the bad things go away."
The structure includes two eight-foot towers connected by driftwood that Campbell collects along Howe Sound shores. It also has a footbridge, a cedar-framed door, two windows and cedar shingles. Campbell said he plans to use the structure as one of his showpieces.
"It's come out pretty interesting looking for sure," he said.
