Hope, help on tap Saturday at fairgrounds

The North Idaho Day of Hope event will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

It is a collaborative effort to bring hope to those who need it, and inspire compassion and service throughout the community.

Guests who attend can receive free groceries, shoes, a haircut, health and dental services, job services, lunch, family portraits.

Items will be available while supplies last. No identification is required. The event will be held rain or shine.

Transportation to and from the fairgrounds on Government Way in Coeur d'Alene will be available from throughout the county on Saturday.

School buses from local districts will be used to transport guests, in addition to the free City Link bus system.

School bus schedules and pickup locations can be found online: www.convoyofhope.org/outreach/northidaho/

Springfield, Mo.-based Convoy of Hope, an international faith-based relief organization, is participating in 40 events similar to the North Idaho Day of Hope nationwide this year.

The "Convoy" will be bring about 35,000 pounds of food that will be distributed.

A volunteer rally will be held tonight at 7 at North Idaho College's Schuler Performing Arts Center in Boswell Hall. Organizers say it's not too late to sign up.

For more information, call 676-0632 or visit www.northidaho.convoyofhope.org.