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HOMELESS: Feeling it is believing it

| December 1, 2010 9:00 PM

It was a cold night to remember. Temperatures dipped to 22 degrees as I camped overnight on the lawn at the Harding school to bring awareness to the estimated 2,000 homeless people that live in our area.

Coeur d'Alene people got to put a face to the homeless, as the homeless showed up in large numbers. At times sleeping bags were distributed directly to these needy persons. A generous acquaintance of mine fed these people eggs and hash browns funded out of his own pocket. His only request of me was that his name remain anonymous to the media.

A special thanks goes to Brenda Hamilton with her great ideas and for her ability to open up the Harding center for our use. Thanks to Terry DeGroot, choir director at Lake City High School, who brought to our function a fiddle and guitar player and young women from their choir who sang their hearts out and brought us happiness with their cheery smiles. The people of this area showed their generosity by bringing load after load of supplies. One man donated seven sleeping bags.

The event was a huge success, as we estimate that more than 350 jackets, blankets and sleeping bags were donated. Matthew 25:40 says, "that which you do for the least of my servants, you do for me." That's exactly what happened that cold winter Friday night in Coeur d'Alene.

STEVE BELL

Coeur d'Alene