Lending a hand
BRIAN WALKER/Press Post Falls 13-year-old Alex Knoll is congratulated by Mayor Ron Jacobson during last week’s Post Falls City Council meeting for raising funds for community programs, including the police department’s K9 unit.
By KAYE THORNBRUGH
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — When Alex Knoll sees a need in his community, he makes it his mission to find a solution.
Over the course of a year, the 13-year-old from Post Falls has raised $1,000 for the Post Falls Police Department K9 Unit. He said he was inspired to raise the money as a way to give back to the community.
“I want to thank the Post Falls Police Department for everything they do to keep our community safe,” Alex said. “They have a tough job and I’m happy to help any way I can.”
The approach was simple: Alex placed donation jars on counters at Black Sheep Sporting Goods. In time, the community’s contributions added up.
This isn’t Alex’s first foray into fundraising or serving the community’s needs.
A budding inventor, Alex has appeared on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” several times to discuss his award-winning creation: the “Ability App,” which would help disabled people navigate public spaces and connect with employers and services. He has traveled internationally to speak about his app.
Development is almost complete, Alex said, and he hopes to launch the “Ability App” in early 2019.
Locally, Alex is also raising money to support the St. Vincent de Paul warming center, which gives homeless individuals a place to go when temperatures drop below 25 degrees from November through February. Once again, Alex felt compelled to help.
“In the winter, the only way to run their facility for people who are homeless is by donations,” he said.
He plans to continue fundraising for both the K9 Unit and the warming shelter.
“So much of the news today is focused on the negative, and yet, there’s so much positivity going on in the world,” said Brian Knoll, Alex’s dad. “As a parent, I’m very proud of Alex. As a citizen of the world, I think it’s important to shine a light on people who are doing things that are positive.”
Alex was recently honored for his fundraising efforts at the Post Fall City Council meeting. Post Falls Police Chief Pat Knight presented Alex with challenge coins from the police department and the K9 Unit, as well as a patch from the SWAT team.
While it’s nice to be recognized, Alex said, the good feelings he gets from helping others would be enough of a reward for him.
“It’s an honor to serve my community,” Alex said. “One of the best things you can do is help others. I’d like to encourage anyone to look for a need in their community and try to find a way to help.”