NATCHITOCHES – Residents and businesses in the Natchitoches area may have resources to help early childhood learning by allowing preschoolers to turn potential trash into treasure. The Marie Shaw Dunn Child Development Center at Northwestern State University is seeking donations of items that would normally end up in a landfill, but that the CDC can use as tools for discovery and creativity.
“We are embarking on a new artistic and building journey at the CDC,” said Director Faith Birdwell. “We are not asking anyone to send or spend any monetary amount. We are just asking to help reduce, reuse and recycle items that may normally be thrown out, like old keys, wood cut offs, wire, pieces of paper, etc.”
Discards, overruns, excess inventory and other materials such as dowels, spindles, springs, tiles, tubes, fabric swatches, wallpaper scraps, blocks, spools, cardboard cutoffs, yarn, buttons and many other items can be used by the preschoolers in building and play activities.
“We plan hands-on learning and encourage expression and creativity in the children,” Birdwell said. “We invite you to join us in reimagining the value of what is often thrown away and investing in the potential of young minds. Together, we can turn surplus into possibility and transform everyday discards into powerful tools for learning and discovery.”
Some examples of “tools and treasures” for creativity a self-discovery include the following.
Wooden dowels Blocks
Turnings Molding pieces
Cast-offs Spools
Spindles Gears
Springs Plastic caps in various sizes and colors
Foam shapes Ceramic pieces
Tiles Cardboard offcuts
Tubes Yarn, string, ribbon, felt pieces
Small sticks, twigs River rocks
Wire, rope, nuts, bolts, hardware Buttons, beads, bangles, jewelry pieces
Fabric swatches Samples
Bolts Mat board
Framing end-cuts Old keys
Pebbles Wire
Wallpaper scraps Flooring Cut Offs
Mirrors Empty paper towel rolls
Materials of different texture, weight and colors
Items that are soiled, moldy, sharp or might contain hazardous materials are not acceptable. Stanfield and her staff will sort thorough materials before children are allowed to use them.
For more information and to discuss donation opportunities or coordinate drop-off, contact Birdwell at stanfieldf@nsula.edu or (318) 357-6860.