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RED KETTLE: Warm returns

| December 5, 2018 12:00 AM

Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army on Saturday at the Walmart store in Hayden was a life lesson in humility, tolerance, empathy for one’s neighbors and the necessity for lined gloves and wool socks in December when standing on concrete outdoors for two hours.

We witnessed the generosity of little children clutching their pennies and nickels, the woman in a wheelchair and her caring spirit, the disabled veterans giving to others and teenagers donating their change.

We shared space at the west entrance with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue folks asking for donations of food. The highly trained dogs so important to the amazing work of KCSO were on “paw” doing a great job of spreading Christmas and canine spirit.

To the adolescent girl with a disability who shared a hug, thank you for being you. We are blessed to live in a community with great heart.

CHRIS GUGGEMOS

TERI BECKER SMITH

Kootenai County