Last call for Christmas for All
Super 1 Foods presents a $7,500 donation to Press Christmas for All at the Super 1 store in Hayden on Wednesday. From left are Randy McIntire, Super 1 Foods vice president; Eric Haakenson, communication division controller with The Hagadone Corp.; Ron McIntire, Super 1 owner; Brian Howell, store director; Clint Schroeder, regional publisher; and Kari Packer, advertising director.
BILL BULEY/Press
Since the day after Thanksgiving, a whole lot of love has been poured into Press Christmas for All.
No small pile of cash, too.
We won’t have a final tally until the middle of next week, as (hint, hint) donations are still welcome. A check dropped in the mail this weekend will count in the 2021 Press Christmas for All campaign. Press offices are closed today.
Two things are about as near certainty as possible: Kootenai County is going to enjoy a glorious white Christmas, and Press Christmas for All will come up short in its ambitious $300,000 quest — the highest goal in the history of the program.
Climatologist Cliff Harris and Meteorologist Randy Mann gave our area a 75% chance of a white Christmas some time back, odds far greater than the likelihood of CFA summiting that $300K mountain. But even if the program comes up short, please keep the big picture in mind.
Lives are being changed with Press Christmas for All ever since the nonprofit targeted locals in poverty who are doing their utmost to become happy, healthy, productive citizens. While the fundraiser is seasonal, the program now runs year-round because people don’t just need a car repair, dental work, decent clothes or a pair of glasses around Dec. 25.
Whatever is raised is what’s distributed. Obviously, the more money you contribute, the more people Press Christmas for All can assist. But we see the light at the top of the tree, even if falling short of the fundraising goal means the golden star will not appear next week.
The light is this:
Compassion and generosity abound in Kootenai County. Over the past month, you’ve read many names of donors to the program, and there have been scores more who contributed anonymously or as part of groups.
One donor gave $500, then later $500 more, and later still was so moved by the story of one of the people we wrote about that the donor ensured she received $1,000 cash. He will never know her name, but that didn’t matter to him. Knowing he was making a big difference in the life of someone who is fighting brilliantly against overwhelming odds was enough.
That, dear friends, embodies the spirit of Christmas — and Press Christmas for All.