"Never give up hope."

Sydney Nelson, lead circulation supervisor for the Community Library Network at Hayden, said the words aloud Thursday morning as she read the message written on a blue ribbon above her head.

That blue ribbon is strung with other blue ribbons on a wall in the Hayden Library, carrying other uplifting and motivational messages:

“Say please and thank you. Be nice.”

“Tell parents they matter.”

“Vote!”

“Make healthier choices as a family.”

“I will stay sober.”

“Advocacy for those with special needs.”

"I think everyone kind of needs that right now," Nelson said. "Everyone's a little burnt out right now, so anything positive is a good thing."

These messages are a part of the Ribbons of Hope project, a traveling, interactive art installation that invites community members to commit to strengthening themselves, someone they know or the community as a whole. These message-bearing ribbons are added to the display to show how small actions can lead to big change.

Organized by the Strengthening Families North Idaho coalition, the project was intended to launch in April, which is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, but was delayed by the pandemic.

The installation debuted in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library and is now touring Community Library Network locations.

"We wanted a way to show that all of our individual actions add up to create big change. Every action counts and we should remember that what we all do matters," Ribbons of Hope organizer Kristen Bonne't said. "The things people write on the ribbons show that we all have a part to play in building strong families and healthy communities."

The project will soon move to Community Library Network at Athol. Those who want to add their commitments are invited to visit the library.

The project was supported by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund in its mission to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Strengthening Families North Idaho comprises organizations such as Head Start, Early Head Start, Fostering Idaho, North Idaho CASA, ICare of St. Vincent de Paul, the Human Rights Education Institute, Panhandle Health District and United Way of North Idaho.

Info: www.idahochildrenstrustfund.org and www.strengtheningfamiliesni.com