The giving gets going

It's better to give, as you well know.

But for children at Christmas, it's pretty darned good to receive.

Now you can facilitate the joy of both giving and receiving.

Press Christmas for All launched its 29th annual fundraising campaign on Friday, with the goal of raising $175,000 by Christmas to provide a good family meal and toys for every needy child in Kootenai County. Two characteristics make this program unusual, if not unique.

First, every penny you donate goes to Kootenai County residents who find themselves unable to provide a sufficient Christmas this year. In fact, thanks to generous support from Super 1 Foods and Shopko, your donation actually grows 10 percent. And because every bit of work is done by volunteers at The Press, parent company The Hagadone Corp., and through our amazing partners at Kootenai County Fire & Rescue, there is nobody to pay and no overhead costs to meet.

Secondly, Press Christmas for All operates largely on an honor system. Applicants must explain why they need help, but there are no specific poverty requirements or other financial criteria that must be met. The program has assisted elderly couples whose Social Security simply did not allow them to give each other a small gift at Christmas. It has helped working moms and dads facing cumbersome health bills or other unforeseen financial challenges. It has helped generate smiles where frowns and tears had seemed assured.

One inflexible requirement is that every beneficiary must reside in Kootenai County. Our promise to donors is that their gift will help their neighbors, not flow to outside quarters. Every year, we keep that promise.

While you can only imagine the happiness your gift creates, you can fully experience the joy of giving. Please send a check today to Press Christmas for All, 201 Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID. 83814, or go to cdapress.com and make a secure online donation. All donations are fully tax deductible.