Community helps family recover from homelessness
Scott Burkhardt and Koko Brockhoff and others with Alliant Employee Benefits generously donated $5,000 to Press Christmas for All. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Jim and Melissa Hightower, owners of Domino’s Pizza, and their employees donate $800 to Press Christmas For All. Holly Paszczynska of The Press accepts the donation. LOREN BENOIT/Press
As part of the annual Press Christmas for All Campaign, we share with readers stories of people applying for help. Here’s one of them.
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This mom of two is getting back on her feet after homelessness.
“Clara” and her two children were homeless for about six months this year. Both of her kids have developmental disabilities that require special care and attention.
“We had to live in our van for a few days,” she said.
Family Promise of North Idaho provided the mom and kids with a place to stay — a different local church each week. They relied on the food bank to help them get by. Though at least they had a roof over their heads, this period was tough on the kids, who struggled with change.
Homelessness was especially hard on Clara’s son.
“He has a therapy cat that we had to put in the shelter,” she said. “He really missed her.”
When the family moved into a place of its own earlier this year, many of its belongings had to be sold.
“We all had to sleep in the same room and we’re still kind of doing that,” she said. “It’s a huge adjustment.”
To support her family, Clara works as a newspaper carrier. She delivers newspapers out of the same van that she and her children had to live in temporarily.
As winter drew closer, Clara couldn’t afford snow tires for her van. She worried about her ability to do her job safely in harsh weather.
That’s where Press Christmas for All came in. Money donated by the community recently paid for a set of snow tires for Clara’s van.
“I feel so much safer,” she said. “I can do my paper route in the morning. I feel like the monkey is off my back.”
Clara expressed gratitude to the community members who donate to the program.
“It makes a world of difference,” she said.
This is the 34th year Press Christmas for All has worked to brighten the lives of Kootenai County residents in need.
Each year, Press readers donate generously to the program. Every penny raised is distributed to Kootenai County residents. All overhead costs are covered by The Hagadone Corp.
The gift recipients are our neighbors who are struggling, including the elderly, disabled, homeless and mentally ill. Many who seek assistance from Christmas for All are working, but living near or below the poverty level.
The beneficiaries of Press Christmas for All are going to keep their dignity intact while the community provides a hand up to help get them back on their feet.
Press Christmas for All is managed by The Hagadone Corp., with assistance from CharityReimagined.Org. It is a legally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run entirely by volunteers.
With a shorter holiday giving season than usual, please make your donation sooner than later. Here are four ways to do it:
- Mail a check to Press Christmas for All, 215 N. Second St., Coeur d’Alene, 83814
- Call The Press and make a secure credit card donation over the phone: 208-664-8176
- Go to cdapress.com. Click on the MENU button, then click on Christmas for All 2019.
- Drop off your check at The Press weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.: 215 N. Second St. in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
Here are some of the most recent donors:
Sherri O’ Connor; Kirk & Jeannine Crum; Jan and Eddie Abel; Tamera Daniels; Dave and Lori Lemm; Stephen & Linda Koehler; Jean Donaldson; Steve Rasor; Kent Holbrook; William Goetz; Carol Root; Milton Schauble; Nelson Family; Rebecca Rogers; Anonymous, In Memory of Leon, my Husband; Randy and Mary Ingersoll; Julia Shea; Kris Yeomans; Cindy and Chuck Matthews, In Memory of Russ Hersrub; Ryan Roslak; Mazurek Family, In Memory of Mary Riley; Linda Fabian; James Ummel; Paul and Beverly McCabe; Robert and Jane Shillingstad; William and Sharon Carlson; Terri Dickerson; Linda Samuel; August and Joanne; Blakely Family; Charles Zeits; Betty Capaul, In memory of Ray Capaul; David and Helga Brown; Lee McDaniel; Michael and Deborah White; Jim and Donna Runge; Pam and Tim Rarick; Gourley and Associates; Vanguard; Faye Shankle, In Memory of Jae; Coleman Engineering, INC.; Bob, Mary, Mark Nuttelman; Anonymous, In memory of Fred and Leon Gabourie; Matt and Nancy Kolb; David Burkle; Tom and Adriene Wiechert; Charles and Karen Groswith; Silver Angels for the Elderly
OVER $500
John and Kathy Barlow; Tim and Janet Kavran; Tim and Wanda Quinn; Maxwell Gage; Jim and Gail English; Donald and Diane Barron; Wesley and Mary Schmidt, In Memory of our Moms and Dads; Alliant Employee Benefits; Atchley Financial Group; Wayne and Deb Burton; Two Wheeler Dealer