Activities at Center Target to benefit nonprofits

POST FALLS - Center Target Sports is shooting for helping area nonprofits again.

The Post Falls business off Mullan Avenue will hold its second Customer Appreciation Day for the Community from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday to benefit the Post Falls Food Bank, Inland Northwest Blood Bank and Toys for Tots.

All of the activities - including gun and safety clinics, kids' activities, target practice and bullwhip and gun-handling demonstrations - are free, but attendees are encouraged to bring canned food or toy donations for chances to win prizes.

"This is such a critical time of year for those nonprofits," said Ed Santos, Center Target Sports owner. "I didn't realize that when school is out for the summer, that affects the blood bank."

Student blood drives during the school year are critical to the blood bank's success, he said.

Santos said the holidays are known as the time for giving food and toys to the nonprofits, but donations during the summer take pressure off the holiday rush.

"The food bank has a mission 365 days a year and traditionally summer is a very difficult time for them to get donations," Santos said.

For each donation, attendees will receive a ticket for a chance to win prizes, including a Mossberg shotgun, two pistols, holsters, Coeur d'Alene Summer Theater tickets and tickets to Spokane Chiefs hockey games.

Free hot dogs and lemonade will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Boomer the Bear, the Chiefs mascot, will be available for photos and autographs during those times.

Last year the event raised 3,000 pounds of food, 49 pints of blood and four totes of toys. About 1,000 people attended.

"The blood bank was reluctant to send a blood mobile last year (thinking it wouldn't generate a lot of donations), but we overwhelmed them and this year they are bringing two blood mobiles," Santos said.

About 30 vendors will sell items in a free swap meet in the parking lot.

"It's our commitment to the community," Santos said of the event.