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I am spearheading a much needed project for children with handicaps or special needs, "Inspire Me Playground for the Northland Community." A new play area would be added to the 20-year-old current playground at Northland Community School.

The idea of the new play area came as an "Ah-ha" moment while I was supervising on the playground. The children who were in wheelchairs, or others with special mobility needs could not use the playground equipment. The planning of a new handicapped-accessible playground began to form in my mind. Truly, working with the special needs students inspired me to set up a meeting on Jan. 12. The committee started looking for funding. The first grant papers came as a surprise. It had everything but our name on it... Let me explain. Playground grants are available for "Schools in low to moderate income communities in Minnesota," with one sticking point, how to raise the matching funds by the Feb. 18, 2016 deadline. Well, if you know me, all anyone had to say is it can't be accomplished and I'm at it full force.

Inspire me! Look on Northland's website to donate. Call your friends, neighbors, alumni. The committee wanted to find grant funding first but it seemed the grant we found, a matching funds grant, has Northland written all over it. Help is all I can ask for. This handicapped-accessible addition to the Northland "Eagles Nest" playground can be a dream not only for our students, but for the community who has shown it cares by providing a new school for the education of the children.

I promise I will make it a play area for all of our contributors to be proud of, Inspired! I can use other people on this quest.[[In-content Ad]]

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