Answering the call
<p>Christy Overby, a Frontier Communications customer service representative, left, helps Dianna Lindback with a purchase Friday during the company's rummage sale to benefit The Wishing Star Foundation.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Employees at Frontier Communications Call Center in Coeur d'Alene didn't let the news that they would be losing their jobs dampen their altruistic spirit.
Although their office is closing in a few weeks, they've moved forward with a fundraiser to help a Make-A-Wish child. The employees are holding a parking lot rummage sale that began Friday and runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at 7400 Mineral Drive. It is open to the public.
The Frontier workers will mark their last day at the call center, Sept. 18, when the office will be shuttered, by handing over a donation to help Elijah, a 6-year-old North Idaho boy who is confined to a wheelchair. The funds will be used to purchase a tandem bike so Elijah can experience some of the things he loves most, being outdoors and moving fast.
"This is going to be such a sentimental moment to close our doors with," said Linda Jordan, call center manager.
April Needham, regional development manager for Make-A-Wish in North Idaho, said she began working with Frontier's Coeur d'Alene call center workers a year ago, planning this employee fundraising effort.
The announcement that the office was being closed came down just as Needham and the employees were putting the final touches on their plan.
"When I got the call from Linda that they wanted to proceed, I was just shocked and truly touched that these people could be so selfless at a time when there's turmoil in their own lives," Needham said. "I'm just really, really impressed with their generosity."
Jordan said she wasn't surprised by the employees' decision to continue on with their fundraiser.
"When I had my huddles, it was unanimous," Jordan said. "For the 14 years that this center has been here, they've been extremely charitable in so many directions."
Internally, the call center's 109 employees, mainly hourly workers, held a silent auction, and raised $1,029 that will go toward their Make-A-Wish donation.
"That's amazing when these folks know that their jobs are about to end," Jordan said.
To make Elijah's wish come true, the Frontier employees need to raise $6,600, which is the cost of the tandem bike.
Community members can help by supporting the parking lot sale today, or by making a donation online: http://friends.wish.org/056-000/page/Linda-Jordan/Elijah's-Wish.htm