The present invention relates to a handheld apparatus (200) for spreading material, including a housing member (220) connected to a bucket member (202), and having a top wall (258), a bottom wall (260), a back wall (268) and side walls (262). The handheld apparatus includes a rotating member (222) disposed within the housing member, including a base plate (252) having a first diameter (Bl) and blades (254). The bottom wall (260) further includes at least one slot (280) at a rear portion (263) and one or more slots (282) at a front portion (261) of the bottom wall. The bottom wall includes a rim member (286) encompassing the plurality of slots (264, 280, 282), defining a second diameter (B2) larger than the first diameter (Bl) of the base plate (252) to protect the rotating member (222).
