Reading is believing

Sign says it all to health workers

COEUR d’ALENE — Everyone has their way of spreading good cheer.

For Marie Larwin, it’s through signs.

Not like fate, but the kind you can read with your own two eyes.

She recently opened a franchise called CardMyYard in Coeur d’Alene. That means she sets up signs to mark occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and graduations, and takes them down when the celebration is over.

It’s a simple way of spreading joy and happiness, Larwin said, which is why she was outside Kootenai Health near the back parking lot on Monday morning posting red, white and blue letters and stars with the message, “Heroes Work Here.”

Several staff members came out to thank her.

“I wanted to give my appreciation to health care workers at this time because I know they’re working nonstop,” she said. “We as a community appreciate their efforts and the hard work they’re putting in to keep everyone safe and healthy.”

The signs were set up for a few hours.

Larwin and her sister, Laura Stevens, are partners in CardMyYard, a nationwide franchise. Stevens handles Spokane and Spokane Valley, while Larwin looks after the North Idaho side.

“I have been busy during this quarantine time helping set up signs for families to celebrate birthdays during this isolation time,” Larwin said.

She said the sign rental business has been good, as people come up with creative ways to mark special occasions while maintaining social distancing.

“It’s a big fun way to make a statement and bring joy to everybody,” she said.