Grant helps buy new boiler for Discovery Square

An $8,000 grant from Flathead Electric Cooperative ended a three-week push by First Best Place to raise enough money to buy a new boiler for Glacier Discovery Square in Columbia Falls.

Glacier Discovery Square’s boiler became a safety hazard and was shut down in early November after several years of “nursing it along.” It was at least 35 years old.

“We got by with what we had available and we’re just really looking forward to being able to provide a functional community center once again,” said Lindsey Becker, administrative director of First Best Place. “We’re heartened by all of the community support we’ve seen.”

When the boiler was shut down, First Best Place started looking for a quick solution to the problem.

Once the word was put out, longtime Columbia Falls resident Leo Renfrow offered a matching gift of $3,000 and donations of $10, $25 and $100 started coming in from around the area and former Flathead Valley residents living thousands of miles away, First Best Place said.

The boiler’s failure forced First Best Place to use temporary heaters for the Night of Lights Parade on Dec. 2 and the Columbia Falls Rotary’s annual Brunch with Santa the following morning.

A bake sale held as part of the parade raised $310 and Rotary offered 10 percent of its proceeds from the brunch to help replace the boiler.

The Round Up for Safety Grant caps a fundraising drive that raised more than $13,000 to buy the new high-efficiency boiler.

“We are humbled by the response from the community,” Jason Spring, a board member of First Best Place, said in a press release.

Glacier Discovery Square will be closed while the boiler is replaced. The goal is to have the community center reopened by mid-January.

First Best Place’s administrative offices are being hosted by Outside Media in the Cosley building during the closure.

First Best Place said it will continue to help groups host events and activities during the closure, using space North Valley Hospital has made available at Teakettle Community Hall.

The group wants this success to spur additional fundraising as it continues to work toward a full update of Glacier Discovery Square, former bank property located on Nucleus Avenue.

“We are more enthusiastic than ever about developing the remaining funding to complete the upgrade, create the new library, and fully improve this great building,” Spring said.

People can visit www.firstbestplace.org or call First Best Place at 892-1363 to talk about the project and how to get involved.