Leaders to sleep outfor homeless awareness

COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Mike Kennedy is trying it himself.

So is St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Jeff Conroy.

They're joining John Corcoran spending Saturday night out in the cold in order to raise awareness for the homeless population in Kootenai County and share the experience that thousands of people do daily.

But the event is also in honor of Dannette Kram, who recently succumbed to cancer. Dannette and her husband, Kevin, helped provide thousands of meals and volunteer hours for years helping the homeless in the area.

Organizing the event through Cherished Ones Ministries, Corcoran and the group are inviting those who want to join to show up at Kootenai County Fairgrounds at 2:30 p.m. to set up camp.

Before camping out, a hot meal will be served around 4:30 or 5 p.m. at Cherished One Ministries, at the corner of Second Street and Indiana Avenue. Then it's over to the Kootenai County Fairgrounds for the night.

Pancakes, sausage, eggs and hashbrowns will be served at 7 a.m. Sunday

For those who don't want to go camping Saturday, but still want to support the Kram family, a benefit concert will be from 5 to 10 p.m. at Calypsos.

Weeks ago, several key city, county and community individuals were charged with raising $1,000 by Feb. 13 or sleep outside in honor of the homeless. All of them raised the money, but all of them want to sleep out too, because of their commitment to this community and to create awareness.

Campers include: County Commissioner Todd Tondee; Coeur d'Alene City Council member Mike Kennedy; Mike Baker, CEO Dirne Community Health; and Jeff Conroy, Executive Director of St. Vincent De Paul.

Then on Sunday, a memorial will be held for Dannette.

The celebration of her life will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at Heart of the City Church, 521 W. Emma Ave. in Coeur d'Alene.

Contact: Natalie Forsyth at 660-4675 nforsyth@dhcidaho.org or Al Willette at 215-4725 if you are coming for a head count.