News
Community assists in Stars of Hope project
Scott Wagar
07/01/2014
This week, over 200 interesting wooden stars with messages of hope will be sent from Bottineau’s Chamber office to two distribution centers in the nation to assist people who are in need of a positive message.
“When New York Says Thank You was here to build Annie’s House they brought with them the Stars of Hope project,” said Clint Reinoehl, director of Bottineau’s Chamber of Commerce.
“The Stars of Hope are stars that are shipped out all over the world by the thousands where there are disasters and such things.When Market Place for Kids took place this year I set up a class for the kids who participated to make Stars of Hope with goal of sending them to others in their time of need,” Reinoehl added.
Although the Market Place for Kids created the inspiring messages on the stars, the entire project was a community project in the local area.
The project started out with Bottineau High School’s FFA members who cut the stars out and sanded them. Then, the Hills Angels, a volunteer organization in the community, painted a base coat on the stars and from there Reinoehl brought the stars to Market Place for Kids where students from in and around Bottineau County painted messages of hope on the star.
At around the same time, an organization in Minot sent a number of painted stars to Reinoehl, along with a supply of plywood and supplies so future Stars of Hope can be created.
With the first boxes of stars shipped out, Reinoehl would like to see the project continue.
“I would like to get the local Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts get involved,” Reinoehl said. “I would even like to find someone who would like to have a booth at Crazy Days where kids can come and create a star.”
The Stars of Hope’s mission is “Stars of Hope is to empower children to bring hope to communities that have been devastated by disasters and or tragic sadness.” Reinoehl, the kids in and around Bottineau County, Bottineau’s FFA group and the Hills of Angel have made this mission statement come true through their dedicated work in helping others in need.
Individuals, who would like more information on the Chamber’s Stars of Hope project, can call the Chamber at (701) 228-3849.