A bench created with purpose

By Carleen Wild

Moody County Enterprise

At the entrance of the new Early Childhood Enrichment Clubhouse sits more than just a place to rest. Commissioned as a gift to mark the partnership behind the project, a handcrafted bench dedicated during last Friday’s opening ceremony, serves as a symbol of the collaboration that brought the facility to life — and the community it’s meant to support.
“It’s not merely a piece of furniture. It says come sit, you are welcome here,” said Jody Hernandez, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains.
“It is designed to offer rest and hold people up.”
Built by master craftsman Scotty Lind, the bench incorporates four types of wood, each representing one of the project’s core partners, Hernandez explained during Friday’s grand opening.
Chinese elm reflects the Boys & Girls Club, symbolizing resilience and growth even in challenging conditions.
Honey locust represents the City of Flandreau, known for its deep roots in river valleys and its ability to create space for others to thrive.
Poplar forms the backrest, representing the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and its generations of connection to the land, bringing wisdom, patience and identity to the piece.
Northwest American elm forms the legs, representing Dakota Layers and the foundational support its transformational gift provided.
At the center of the bench is a resin “river,” embedded with stones from the Big Sioux River — a nod, she said, to the shared history and connection that has shaped the community for generations.
Embedded coins — pennies and a quarter — add another layer of meaning, symbolizing prosperity, protection and a moment of commitment to the partnership that made the Clubhouse possible.
“The bench is a perfect metaphor for the Clubhouse, a place built to support, gather, and to hold up children and families of Flandreau,” Hernandez said.
A plaque nearby, giving thanks to its founding partners, reads in part:
“What you built here is more than a Clubhouse. It is a promise to the youngest members of this community — that they are seen, they belong, and their futures matter.”