Big smiles, big hearts
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press At left, Karen Nielsen, executive director of Open Arms Pregnancy Center, shakes hands with Loretta Reed of Windermere Real Estate of Coeur d'Alene as Nielsen recieves a donation check from Windermere on Thursday at the Windermere Real Estate Coeur d'Alene office.</p>
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Donald "Pepper" Smock and his wife Midge Smock of Windermere Real Estate of Coeur d'Alene donated $1,000 to the Press' Christmas for All charity on Wednesday. Midge's mother Evamae Kline also donated $250.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — Thanks to funds from the Windermere Foundation, more youths with disabilities will be able to experience the joys of summer at Camp Independence next year.
"These are children that would not get to go on a field trip or be in a summer camp, because of their level of physical, cognitive or a medical need," said Tesh CEO Frances Huffman.
The funds will provide scholarships for the youths to experience outings with friends and caring adults while making memories that will last a lifetime. Before Windermere's contribution, 30 campers were covered. Now, 33 special young people will get to have those experiences.
"It really opens up their world to a community they don’t have access to," Huffman said. "It's a wonderful experience."
Tesh, which is dedicated to children and adults with disabilities, was one of 12 nonprofits that received funds from the Windermere Foundation in the Windermere offices in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday. Agents raised $25,000 and just couldn't wait to give it all back to the community.
"For every closing our agents do, they donate money back to the Windermere Foundation," said Realtor Midge Smock. "Every time there's a sale, money goes into our account."
Windermere managing broker Pat Krug accepted funds on behalf of residents of the Coeur d'Alene Manor Apartments.
"It is primarily disabled adults that live there, although there are some seniors as well," she said.
Krug said the funds would actually be used that day to provide Christmas dinner, presents and $20 Walmart gift cards for all 60 residents.
"We've done things a little bit differently this year, but they still get to experience Christmas," she said.
Other recipients included: North Idaho College's dual-enrollment program, which provides high-schoolers with scholarships to get them on the fast to higher education; the Rathdrum Lions Backpack Program, which sends low-income students home with food-filled backpacks to nourish them on the weekends; Shared Harvest Community Garden, a program that provides food banks and those in need with fresh produce; Open Arms Pregnancy Care Center and Real Choices Clinic, a non-denominational, non-political organization that provides information, compassion and support for those facing unintended pregnancies; Quest Summer Day Camp, a positive 10-week summer camp for kids ages 6-14; Family Promise of North Idaho, which serves homeless families with children and helps them build new lives; Children's Village, an organization that provides safe haven and hope for children in abusive or crisis situations; Safe Passage Violence Passage Violence Prevention Center, which provides safety, education and empowerment to victims of violence and the community; Windermere's Boots and Socks Program, which provides new boots and socks to area students; and St. George's Catholic Church, which assists people facing financial hardships with paying their utilities, rent, buying groceries and other necessities.
"It's just so amazing how everything you guys do touches every other group," Smock said to the recipients. "We're able to help each other, and I think that's what is so cool about being in the Windermere Foundation. We get an opportunity not only to see this, but to help it happen.
"Just think about all the lives that you touch," Smock continued. "It's phenomenal to me, and I'm so grateful. It takes a village, it really does, and you guys are our village."