Lakes Middle School to host 'Lakesgiving'

COEUR d'ALENE — Lakes Magnet Middle School social studies teacher Chad Booth would be OK with feeding the entire community.

And if he runs out of food because so many people received a warm meal during Lakesgiving on Nov. 23, he'd be alright with that too.

"There's a need right here in our school," Booth said Friday afternoon. "I thought, 'Why don't we feed the community?'"

Booth has been involved with Lakesgiving since the beginning. A Lakes spin on Thanksgiving, Lakesgiving started as a way to provide a holiday meal to Lakes students and staff. In its third year, Lakesgiving is still an event for Lakes families, but its doors are now open to the community.

This year's event has borrowed some elements and organizers from the North Idaho Day of Hope and has expanded to include services, resources and goods such as information tables, groceries, limited health care as well as music and a hot meal. Lakesgiving will also include face painting, games and activities for kids.

Partners for Lakesgiving include Real Life Ministries/Coeur d'Alene and Health Goals for Parents and Students, which is a group spawned by the collaboration for the Day of Hope and includes representatives from area schools, churches, nonprofits and businesses that have a vision to help the community grow.

"They just want to serve," Booth said of those involved in the event. "Schools are a great way to do that."

About 400 people are expected to attend Lakesgiving. Booth said several local businesses are donating food and several volunteers are planning to be there, but more are welcome to help out, socialize and build community through this holiday event. He said he would love to see other schools, such as Bryan and Borah, become a part of Lakesgiving in the future.

"It's great to see our community rally around this," he said. "Our community is awesome. I don't see this other places. It's a great testament to the people in our community."

Lakesgiving will be from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Lakes, 930 N. 15th St. in Coeur d'Alene. To volunteer, donate or for information, email Booth at cbooth@cdashools.org or James Curb jcurb@cdaschools.org.