A popular fundraising project for the Martensville and Warman KidSport charities will be back again for another year.
For the past six years, a 100-square foot custom-built playhouse that doubles as a storage shed has been raffled off as the grand prize in a fundraising project. KidSport provides funds to needy families in Martensville and Warman to enable them to enroll their children in organized sports. The playhouse raffle has raised thousands of dollars for the charities since it was launched in 2016 by the owners of the Martensville A&W.
Until 2019, the playhouse was built by students at Martensville High School and Warman High School under the direction of industrial arts teachers. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, MHS students were unable to complete the project. Fortunately, a Martensville carpenter, Marty Goertzen, stepped up to the plate and finished it in the spring of 2021.
Martensville Building and Home Supply has committed to providing all the materials needed for the playhouse. Pinnacle Builders will be designing and constructing the building. Anthony Nienhuis, the owner of both businesses, has been involved with the KidSport Playhouse project since its inception.
“We’ve been providing the building supplies for the project from the start,” said Nienhuis. “Martensville A&W owner Brian Buffin came up with the idea and asked me if we’d help out. I thought it was a terrific idea, and I still do. We’re very proud to be involved with the partnership, and we want to keep the project going.”
Nienhuis said KidSport is a good way for area businesses to give back to the community because it provides “equal opportunity” for families who really do need financial assistance.
“KidSport is a good vehicle for donors to go through,” said Nienhuis.
Nienhuis said this year, the staff at Pinnacle Builders will come up with a unique design for the playhouse.
“They’ll come up with something pretty creative and attractive,” said Nienhuis.
Staff at Pinnacle will build the playhouse.
“My hope is that once this pandemic is over and things get back to normal, students at the high school will once again be able to do all the construction work on the playhouse,” said Nienhuis. “We’re taking on the project temporarily to make sure the fundraiser goes ahead this year.”
Construction of the playhouse is likely to begin later this fall or winter, so that it’s ready by early summer. The playhouse is generally put up on display in the A&W parking lot by late April, with the draw made in early September.
The local KidSport organizations aren’t the only charities that will benefit from a custom playhouse this year.
Nienhuis said the Pinnacle staff will actually be designing and building a second playhouse that will go toward a fundraising project for the fledgling Martensville Food Bank.
“The idea is to provide seed money to help get it rolling,” said Nienhuis. “It’s unfortunate, but a food bank is very much needed in this community.”
Nienhuis volunteered earlier this year to be part of the food bank initiative in Martensville.
He noted the playhouse for the Martensville Food Bank fundraising event will be scheduled to come on stream later in the fall of 2022.
“We’re looking forward to building both projects,” said Nienhuis.