The CFA do-good squad gets bigger

Press Christmas for All is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit managed by volunteers at The Hagadone Corp. and The Press. But the people doing the heaviest lifting to make the holiday charity a success? These days, that’s Maggie Lyons and Elaine Kingston.

Maggie, many of you know, founded Charity Reimagined, a group fiercely determined to help locals in poverty dig their way out. Maggie & Team don’t do all the digging, but they provide some fine shovels and clear instructions.

One of the amazing things Maggie, Elaine and the others (see CharityReimagined.org) have accomplished is building bridges with two groups of allies. One is a group of local nonprofits and fellow do-gooders who work with the needy on a host of fronts. Nobody knows the needy — and what will help them most — more than these folks. They’ve joined forces with Charity Reimagined to figure out who’s ready and willing to change their lives with a little bit of legitimate help.

The other, and this is where Maggie’s and Elaine’s dedication might shine brightest, is business people with a serious sense of community improvement. Because every time you help one local family escape the clutches of poverty, the entire community gains.

The Press wishes to acknowledge the businesses who are helping Press Christmas for All donors spread their investment even further this year. We say “even further” because already, every penny donated goes to needy Kootenai County individuals and families. With the additional assistance of businesses who are providing goods and services at or even below cost, the program can stretch contributions wonderfully.

AUTO (repairs, tires, etc.)

Silverlake Automotive

Mike White Ford

Knudtsen Chevrolet

Torgy’s Auto Glass

DENTAL

Heritage Health Dental

Dr. Erin Elliot, Post Falls Family Dentistry

Dr. Delwyn Dick Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

EYE DOCTORS

Larry Breazeal, O.D. Eyeguys Optical

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Cindy Ellenbecker, O.D.

Wayne Ellenbecker, O.D.

Ellenbecker Eye Clinic

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Ray Greene, O.D.

Coeur d’Alene Vision Source

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Rebecca Jangula, O.D.

Jesse Jangula , O.D.

Post Falls Optometric Physicians

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Rob Johnson, O.D.

Kootenai Vision Center

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Brian Miller, O.D.

Lakeland Eye Clinic

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Debra Stoenner, O.D.

Hayden Vision Source

HVAC

J.A. Bertsch Heating and Cooling

OTHER

Runge Furniture

You see, Press Christmas for All is so much more than a community newspaper trying to raise a few bucks to help the less fortunate. It’s now a holiday mission shared by a growing army of good-hearted soldiers.