Driving past Northwest College’s child care center, Mary Black couldn’t help but notice the tarps.

With a limited budget, the liners were serving as sun shades over some of the structures on the playground. However, the tarps wore out quickly amid the elements — in addition to not being the most aesthetically pleasing.

An industrial seamstress by trade, Black said when she saw the tarps, she was hit with the idea that she should build proper sun shades for the playground.

Initially, she dismissed the idea, but it came back to her every time she drove by. So, Black eventually approached NWC Children’s Learning and Care Center Manager Autourina Mains and explained she wanted to donate custom-made sun shades.

Mains said her jaw dropped.

“She just walked in one day and approached me saying, ‘I would like to donate new covers for your structure,’” Mains recalled. “Needless to say I was filled with gratitude at her generous offer.”

After taking on the project, Black soon realized just how much material and work was involved; the materials alone cost more than $7,000.

Fortunately, a family member in Utah who works on billboards just happened to have some extra fabric on hand and offered it up for Black’s project.

To Mains, that serendipity was another sign that the project was divinely inspired.

“Tell me this wasn’t God-sent,” she said.

Black got started on the project in June. Using the fabric from Utah, webbing and velcro, she created four sun shades that each have a different — and asymmetrical — shape to fit four different structures on the playground.

“It was interesting figuring out how it was going to work,” Black laughed, “but that’s what I love to do.”

She also loves kids, having nine children of her own.

Black finished her work in early September, presenting the NWC center with greatly improved shades; in addition to looking better and being more durable, they also provide better shade, Mains said.

Last week, she, other staffers and children at the NWC center presented Black with a thank you card and flowers as a token of their appreciation. Mains praised Black for her generosity, saying that, “We have such a loving, supporting community in Powell.”