Reach for the star

There’s a realization that hits people pretty quickly after they move to North Idaho, if they didn’t know it already.

We take care of each other.

That can mean shoveling the elderly widow’s driveway, dropping off cans of food at the local food banks or picking up the check for a veteran eating breakfast at the Blue Plate.

This time of year, it means pitching in to guarantee your less-fortunate neighbors have a hot meal and presents for the kids on Christmas Day.

Today begins the 32nd annual Press Christmas for All fundraising campaign. With The Hagadone Corp. holding the paperwork for Press CFA as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, the newspaper serving as primary cheerleader and messenger, and a small army of volunteers handling hundreds of applications and dispensing gift cards just before Christmas, this program guarantees that every penny raised will be distributed locally. And by locally, we mean 100 percent will go to Kootenai County residents who need a little help this season.

The 2017 goal is $170,000, which is slightly higher than what the community contributed a year ago.

It’s do-able because of you.

Donors include young children handing over their piggy banks and adults who are paying it forward because once upon a time, they, too, needed a little help and Press Christmas for All was there for them.

Service clubs are longtime Press CFA partners, and businesses, as in all aspects of North Idaho life, come through in a substantial way every single year.

Hundreds and hundreds of local people donate what they can, from a couple of bucks to an astonishing $20,000 two years ago from an anonymous Athol resident. This generosity makes a merry little Christmas possible for 7,000 to 10,000 Kootenai County residents.

As always, we’ll publish the names of every single donor. We’ll happily print photos in the paper of individuals or groups who give $500 or more.

The fundraising drive starts today, but please don’t wait to participate. Christmas Day is on a Monday this year, so the goal needs to be met by Friday, Dec. 22.

Please send your tax-deductible check to:

Press Christmas for All

215 N. Second St.

Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

You can also call The Press at 208-664-8176 during weekday business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to make a secure credit card donation.

There’s only one way to put a bright, shiny star on top of the empty tree on today’s front page, and that’s by raising $170,000 to give to those less fortunate than you.

Shine on, Kootenai County.