Gizmo to gift 120 project kits to foster kids

COEUR d’ALENE — Dragons, rockets and robots that balance are all part of a special delivery going to the kids served by North Idaho CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) today.

Workers and volunteers at nonprofit makerspace Gizmo-CDA have spent the last two weeks laser-cutting and preparing pieces of educational yet fun projects for CASA kids to assemble themselves and enjoy without the need for computers or internet.

CASA is a nonprofit that serves children who have experienced abuse or neglect, and many of its kids live in foster care and may not have access to internet, especially during COVID-19 school closures.

"What we did was we tried to think about different age groups and what would be appealing and keep them occupied, but also be challenging," Gizmo co-founder Barbara Mueller said Tuesday.

The more than 100 kits include handmade backgammon boards, LEGO challenges, rockets, a balancing game using a robot that hangs off a surface and a dragon that, once assembled, will flap its wings and move.

Gizmo is including the necessary motors and batteries. Mueller said these kits align with Gizmo's focus on project-based learning.

"This was an opportunity to get projects into the hands of kids and let them learn from that experience,” she said. "They'll know what the steps are, but this leaves room for imagination and play."

Mueller said the kits also include COVID-19 journals.

"It asks the kids lots of questions about how this has affected them," she said.

CASA CEO KJ Brant said the kits will "provide comfort and activity time to 120 children CASA is serving in the child protective system."