Community Thanks March 3, 2013

PHD: Dental parties greatly appreciated

Approximately 30 area teenagers benefited from no-cost dental services at two Teen Dental Parties organized by Panhandle Health District (PHD) in January. All teens were offered educational materials and many were screened for dental health and provided fluoride varnish, dental sealants and dental supplies to take home.

PHD thanks Crosswalk North Idaho for hosting the parties, particularly Director Brandi Smitherman and Community Outreach Coordinator Holly Zack. PHD also thanks Drs. Rachel Davidson and Sara McVey for donating their time and dental skills to screen teens, and Dirne Dental for donating recommended follow-up care for six teens.

To date, our local dental community has donated $17,839 in follow-up care, enabling a total of 26 teens who participated in PHD's dental parties this winter to receive needed services. PHD thanks Laser Dentistry of Coeur d'Alene, Brumbach Family Dentistry, Dr. Michael Boehm, Dr. Cheri Bloom, Dr. K.C. McVey, Smart Family Dentistry, Dirne Dental and Dr. Daniel Cullum.

Community collaboration is the key that drives the success of our Teen Dental Parties. DentaQuest Foundation considers the Teen Dental Party model we are using in North Idaho an idea worth sharing/replicating at the national level with its other grantees and networks.

Lora Whalen, Director

Panhandle Health District

HOSPICE: Event was a great success

On behalf of Hospice of North Idaho, I would like to extend a special thank you to all of our community for your generosity of monies, wine, food, labor and time to ensure the success of the 2013 Hospice of North Idaho Wine Taste event. The 28th annual Wine Taste was a fun night for all with great wines, food and auction items. The spirit of generosity was prevalent and allowed us to raise more money than any previous events. The funds raised at this event will allow us to continue to provide end of life care for all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay.

A special thank you to our event sponsors who continue to support our mission: Polin and Young Construction; The Coeur d'Alene Press; Frame of Mind; Hayden Lake Country Club; Mountain West Bank; Kootenai Imaging; Coeur d'Alene Mines; Paine Hamblen; Specialty Tree; Bellevue Healthcare; Avista, Thorco Electrical and Creekside Inn.

The delicious food for the event was provided by: Coeur d'Alene Casino; Coeur d'Alene Chocolates; Pastry and More; Greenbriar Catering; Pilgrims; Hayden Lake Country Club; Seasons of Coeur d'Alene and the Hospice House. Our beverage sponsors provided exceptional wines and beer. They included: Odom Southern Corporation; Vehrs Inc.; Hayden Beverage; Eagle Marketing; Centennial Distributing; Idaho Wine Merchants and Click.

Again, thank you to all of our community supporters. Your generosity throughout the years has allowed Hospice of North Idaho to remain focused on our mission: To allow our patients and their loved ones to live life as fully as possible.

Brenda Wild and Linda Yarborough,

Committee Co-Chairs

HONI 2013 Wine Taste

BOXES: Local support makes it possible

For several years we have been sending boxes of items to soldiers and airmen in Iraq and no Afghanistan. We have strived to make each care package unique with much thought put into the contents. We pack small things that lift the spirit and dull the sharp edge from long hard days and sleepless nights. Some things we purchase while others have been donated by your own local businesses. We now would like to take a moment to thank some of these generous men and women for helping us bring some cheer to our nations finest overseas in harms way.

The Bulldog Pipe & Cigar Store, in the Silver Lake Mall, not only for the very popular magazines but recently for the expensive box of high quality cigars. The men truly appreciate them. "Velvet" is hard to find in a forward operating base.

Dr. Delwin Dick, my skilled dentist, and his lovely staff not only are helping us with a terrific package but also ship supply's and equipment to ravaged Haiti.

The hard-working staff at Meckel Engineering and Surveying who kindly donated enough cash to purchase new Leatherman Multi Tools and Surefire Flashlights for an entire Attack Helicopter Squadron.

Gathering more than Fifteen hundred dollars, we were able to replace the broken ones the airmen were issued.

The Sportsman's Warehouse who gave us enough discount to purchase all the multi tools and flashlights they had in stock.

Walmart in Post Falls thankfully matched the discount from the warehouse allowing us to fill the entire request of sixteen sets including extra batteries. The airmen were so thankful they sent them a battle flag complete with certificate.

And lastly Scott at Rocky Mtn. Distributing, who supplied us with the kites we had searched for so long (they fit into the 12"X 12" boxes).

Each of these local businesses and the patriotic men and women who own and staff them deserve our enduring gratitude. They have the heartfelt thanks of the young men and women who eagerly open each box.

Sincerely,

The Brown Family

Post Falls

BORAH: Fundraiser support appreciated

Thank You Borah Supporters:

I would like to take a moment to thank an amazing group of people who made our recent Borah Family Fun Night so successful.

First of all I would like to thank our small but might PTO for all of the hard work and organization that went into the annual event. These tireless volunteers pour in countless hours over the year and I just want them to know how much we appreciate the way they serve our students. I also want to thank the staff members who gave up their Friday evening to work at booths and also the hours they spent procuring donations for raffle baskets.

This year, as the day drew near, we knew we would be short handed in the volunteer department. For many reasons our regulars weren't signing up to assist. I made one call and twelve hours later I had an additional twenty six volunteers from our community who came out to help us provide a fun night for our students. I called my friend, Katie Klader. Katie has been working with our school all year long as a member of the Coeur d'Alene Education Partnership recruiting volunteers for our playground and classrooms. She called her friends who own Java downtown and they signed up patrons enjoying a cup of coffee for the event. She called friends and acquaintances from other schools and PTOs reached out to enlist volunteers to help. They brought their high school aged children and friends and it was a sight to see. We live in an amazing community that truly supports our schools and students. It was a great night and could not have been without all of you.

Gratefully,

Sharon Hanson

Borah Elementary School Principal