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It's incredible what they can make from a few junky old pallets (5 photos)

Recycled wood creations were on display Saturday at a fundraising event for local shelter Pauline's Place

You know those wooden pallets that are picked up by forklifts to move boxes and other stuff around?

People have been making some pretty amazing furniture out of those.

Examples could be found at Pauline’s Place’s First Annual Pallet Build Off, a fundraising event for the local shelter held on Saturday.

Pauline’s Place provides emergency shelter for youth, women, and families who are experiencing a housing crisis.

Five groups participated in the build off making a variety of objects almost entirely out of cheap wooden pallets.

The results were astonishing, well made objects that are being auctioned off via Pauline’s Place’s Facebook page starting August 29 and running until September 6. 

The first place winner was a foldable lounge chair submission by Ergo Office Plus.

Pauline’s Place Executive Director Anne Penney said the event was a metaphor for the work done at the shelter.

“We wanted to do this to help people realize that you can take something from nothing and make something beautiful out of it. (Like the build off), a person can do the same thing and make anything they want with their life, it's totally up to them. At Pauline’s Place we see a lot of people with mental health and addiction issues and we see a lot of people who go far and make something of themselves,” said Penney.

Pauline’s Place Residential Supervisor Tiffany Vanzant said another reason for the event was to show people who are struggling financially, a situation many of their clients find themselves in, that it’s possible to find alternative solutions to just going out and buying what you need.

“(We wanted to) inspire people to create something they could use at home, whether it’s a bed, repurposing an old dresser, or just something that they can use but maybe can’t purchase and they can maybe make it from a pallet or two,” said Vanzant.

Other creations revealed on Saturday were a bar, stool, and bench set, a 2-in-1 cribbage and coffee table, a side table/outdoor table, and an outdoor ' Yard Yahtzee' set.

Anyone wishing to bid on items should visit the Pauline’s Place Facebook page.


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Jeff Klassen

About the Author: Jeff Klassen

Jeff Klassen is a SooToday staff reporter who is always looking for an interesting story
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