The Cottage hosting yard and craft sale
A few of Pahnandle Special Needs, Inc. clients pose outside The Cottage with some of the items they’ve made that are available for sale at the second-hand home goods store. (Courtesy photo)
SANDPOINT — The developmentally disabled people who make up Panhandle Special Needs, Inc.’s client-base have plenty to do these days.
In fact, they are busy cleaning and preparing items for a Saturday yard and craft sale on The Cottage’s grounds to help bolster PSNI’s coffers.
But that was not the situation earlier this spring.
As the economy slowed down in recent years, the contract work PSNI relied upon to train and employ its clients became almost nonexistent.
“They were running out of work,” said PSNI volunteer Lois Miller.
Then late one night she had a bit of inspiration and dreamed up The Cottage — an upscale second-hand home goods store located just next door to PSNI at 1410 N. Boyer.
“That department needed this place,” Miller said, as she sat on a wicker sofa on the old house’s big front porch.
This weekend’s event will include craft booths ($15 for one space or $25 for two and bring your own table).
It also will include some special antiques donated by Linda Anderson of the Wild Goose Chase, an antique and second-hand business located in the Selle Valley.
Anderson had some items stored in a barn and decided to donate them to PSNI. Some of those pieces — side tables and chairs — also are for sale in The Cottage.
In addition, PSNI will host a bake sale on the big porch. The clients will run a lemonade stand and several of them also will have their own booths.
The sale will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. People also can tour The Cottage from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All items at The Cottage will be half price; the only exception will be items donated by Anderson.
The Cottage couldn’t provide jobs for PSNI clients if it were not for the people who volunteer to help run it, said Miller, adding in a plug for more volunteers.
The best part of The Cottage, though, is how the clients feel about themselves.
“They’re really into this place and they really love it,” Miller said.
The clients are responsible for the building’s janitorial work and greeting customers, in addition to cleaning and repurposing items for sale.
“It’s just a whole vision fulfilled to see this place bustling,” Miller said.