Share a little joy for Christmas

Press Christmas for All has a steep hill to climb this year.

Our partners at Kootenai County Fire & Rescue, bless them every one, have been logging every single application into a database. Here’s the 2015 Christmas list:

• A total of 2,671 applications have been approved.

• Of those:

— 856 applications request a gift card for one person

— 548 applications request a gift card for two family members

— 575 applications request a gift card for three family members

— 400 applications request a gift card for four family members

— 292 applications request a gift card for five or more family members

• Put another way, Press Christmas for All is determined to provide a merry little Christmas for at least 6,737 Kootenai County residents.

As our daily stories have shown, those needing help range from the aged and infirm to the young and hard working who simply don’t have enough to provide a decent meal or presents for the kids on Christmas Day. If you want a little good news, it is this: 6,737 is the lowest number we’ve seen since the recession hit eight years ago.

On the flip side, however, nearly 7,000 people — these are your neighbors, your friends, and maybe even some of your relatives — have had to swallow their pride and ask for help. They’ve had to explain, in writing, their circumstances and why they’re seeking assistance.

Idahoans in general and those of us up north in particular have a long history of taking care of their own. Please help ensure that not one single child in Kootenai County wakes up Christmas morning without a present with his or her name on it, and a decent, hot meal on the Christmas day table.

We’ve raised enough money already to help about 1,000 local moms, dads and children. That’s great, but it still leaves more than 5,700 to go — and two weeks left to meet the demand.

Please do what you can to help. Mail your check to Press Christmas for All, 215 N. Second St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814, or call (208) 664-0227 and make your contribution by credit card. You can also donate securely by going to:

https://cdapress-dot-com.bloxcms.com/christmas_for_all/donations/christmas_for_all_2014_donation/

Donations are tax deductible.