Relief on the road

Nonprofits and groups statewide will be present in force for the upcoming Labor Day weekend holiday.

Their mission is to offer respite for weary Labor Day travelers with refreshments and coffee, which in turn improves safety on highways.

The Idaho Transportation Department's Rest Area Activities Program also helps such groups raise funds for community programs, said Stephanie Hale, ITD's District 1 permit coordinator.

At the Huetter rest stops along Interstate 90 between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls this weekend, the Coeurly Q's Squaredance Club will offer refreshments for eastbound traffic. Those associated with the Rathdrum Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program will be on hand for westbound traffic.

The groups will be at the stops from dawn to dusk Friday to Sunday.

No groups are slated to be at the stops Monday.

For decades, groups have offered coffee and treats to travelers at the state's 31 rest areas through ITD's program. Groups are allowed to accept donations, but cannot charge for their offerings.

The Vietnam Veterans of America, Idaho Falls chapter, operated at the Blackfoot Rest Area earlier this summer, at both the north- and southbound facilities. Eastern Star covers that rest area as well.

The Malad Shriners group covers the northbound Cherry Creek Rest Area on Interstate 15.

In southwest Idaho, the Disabled American Veterans and Treasure Valley Marine Corps League often compete to offer services at the east- and westbound Blacks Creek Rest Area east of Boise.

The Glenns Ferry groups, though, are notable.

Since 1997, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3646 from Glenns Ferry has worked the Bliss Rest Area on Interstate 84 during Memorial Day weekend. Volunteers from the Glenns Ferry Senior Center work the rest area on the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends.

If history is any indication, they'll go through about 180 dozen cookies, baked the Wednesday before the weekend at the Glenns Ferry Senior Center.

"Over the years, we have helped many travelers with problems such as cars overheating or running out of gas," said volunteer Dale Smith.

We've had travelers from every state except Hawaii. One comment we have heard over and over again is how nice the Idaho rest stops are in comparison to other states," Smith added.