Press Christmas for All 12-05-2013
<p>Staff with Northwest Realty Group present Christmas For All with a donation of $1350 Monday at the Coeur d’Alene office. Half of the funds were gathered from employee donations and the company matched with another $675. From left, Stacie Sichelstiel, Kiley Baker, Brian Kleinjans, Katie Bane, Jeremy Knoll, Tom Coit, account executive with the Press, Rob Schippers, Chad Oakland, Marcello Conigliaro, Jane Schippers, Debbie English, Kim Lewis and Melissa Romjue.</p>
Nobody's dreams for the good life include being homeless.
This young mother's recent housing situation has been a roller coaster ride with the usual ups and downs, but lately, she said, it has been more downs than ups. She, her husband and two children have been homeless for a while now.
"A lot of different things led up to that," she said. "My husband was working out of town for a while and it took our entire savings to come back here to Kootenai County. We'd counted on staying with family until we got back on our feet, but then, after just a few days, they asked us to leave. I'd figured on help from my family - I'd even checked with them before we got here - but we had to leave anyway.
"We stayed at a motel for four months, but ended up having to move out of there. We'd had a deal to take the motel's garbage to the dump for a reduction in our rent, but after we had a disagreement about that, we were forced to move."
For a while, she said, she and her husband had to live out of their truck while it was parked in the lot of a big box store.
She's currently working 20 hours a week cleaning offices, while her husband manages to put in 12 hours a week at work.
Currently she and her family are in a program called Family Promise of North Idaho, which offers its clients a way to get back on their feet and their lives turned around.
"They have a network of churches that allow you to stay in a church for one week at a time - some will allow two weeks," she said.
This mom's biggest wish is that her children can have a Christmas.
"My husband and I can't afford anything for them, but we'd love to be able to take care of them. And, of course, I wish I could give my husband a good Christmas. For me? What would be great for me are some gas vouchers so I can make it to work without worrying about running out of gas."
With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for people like this - the jobless, homeless, those who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.
Each year, our generous readers' donations allow us to assist thousands of Kootenai County families in need. Each day until Christmas, we will share the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.
see CFA, A7
from A1
Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.
Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 28th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and their partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards from local retailers who also generously support the program. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products. All contributions are tax deductible.
To give, please send a check to:
Press Christmas for All, 201 Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.
You can also call (208) 664-8176 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and donate by credit card.
Donations can be made securely online at www.christmasforallcda.com
Recent donors: Larry M. Echelberger, United Way Campaign, Jeffrey Grutta, David and Patricia Hoskins, Roger and Barbara Spencer, Audrey M. Schutz.