Community comes to aid of family

SANDPOINT - Small acts of holiday generosity could add up to a big difference for the McCoy family.

On Thanksgiving Day, a car accident killed 40-year-old Bonners Ferry resident Tanya McCoy and left her 10-year-old son, Andrew, in critical condition. Currently hospitalized at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Andrew shows steady improvement, but the hospital still classifies his condition as critical according to his aunt Tamara Poelstra.

The Bonners Ferry community has assisted the McCoy family with gifts of food, gas cards and other helpful gifts. But Poelstra said that Andrew's medical costs add between $25,000 and $100,000 to a quickly growing bill every day.

"Medical costs can financially ruin a family," Poelstra said. "We want to make sure that this family isn't crippled by the burden."

Poelstra and her family have set up a benefit account at Panhandle State Bank with proceeds going toward Andrew's expenses.

The Poelstras hope that people will choose to contribute a few dollars here and there while going about their routine banking.

"We're just asking people to maybe give up their latte for a day and help the family instead," Poelstra said.

Tanya McCoy's funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Becker Auditorium in Bonners Ferry, followed by a private internment at Grandview Cemetery.