[CCCNFBW] Pay-It-Forward stations at Washington State School for the Blind are a twist on Little Free Libraries

[Merribeth Greenberg]

Stations encourage exploring campus, giving and receiving
By Will Denner, Columbian Staff Reporter
Published: September 8, 2026, 11:00am
Pay-It-Forward stations at Washington State School for the Blind are a
twist on Little Free Libraries - The Columbian
<https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/sep/08/pay-it-forward-stations-at-washington-state-school-for-the-blind-are-a-twist-on-little-free-libraries/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=Morning+Briefing>

Photo description: Pay-It-Forward stations recently added to Washington
State School for the Blind’s campus feature items such as fidget toys,
stress cubes, blank canvases with paint, journals, and anything else
students and staff want to contribute. (Contributed by Phi Mangers)

(Side note: there were 4 wooden box stations they called cardinal houses
and were placed in the cardinal directions around the outer square walking
path through campus.)

Phi Mangers, a fiscal analyst in the school’s business office, drew
inspiration from Pinterest for the idea as a way to encourage kindness and
connection among students and staff on campus.

Mangers’ vision came to life with two Pay-It-Forward stations on the west
and south sides of campus that contain items such as fidget toys, stress
cubes, blank canvases with paint, journals and anything else students and
staff want to contribute.

In addition to a Little Free Library on campus that offers both brailled
and non-brailled books, the new stations give blind and low vision students
a reason to travel around campus and reward them for using their
navigational skills, said Sean McCormick, Washington State School for the
Blind’s director of on-campus programs.

“Not all students are ready to travel to the mall or Starbucks on their
own, so the on-campus travel and excitement brings some joy when they are
learning how to get around our 13-acre campus,” McCormick said.

The wooden structures were constructed years ago by Brian Kindblade, a
now-retired staff member who spent 30 years on the school’s facilities
crew. Some of them didn’t end up getting used and sat empty, Mangers said.

“I thought that was a shame,” she said.

Mangers enlisted the help of her husband, Chad Mangers, to spruce up the
wooden structures by adding new roofs, hinges and bases, plus fresh coats
of orange and white paint.

Printed instructions at the stations include the mantra, “Take a little
joy. Leave a little joy.”

In addition to exchanging small items, students and staff are also
encouraged to write notes of wisdom, hope or positivity.

Although the initiative is still in its early stages, Mangers said staff
are excited to work with students to spread joy around campus. One staff
member has already donated a painted canvas.

“My hope is that these little stations will encourage people to share, give
and spread kindness throughout our campus and the broader community,”
Mangers said.
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