Idaho keeps giving and giving
Santa is ready to head out in December on the “Mobile Santa” Food Drive by the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department.
Idaho was in a giving mood in December.
Gem State residents' charitable contributions were up 153% last month vs. December 2019, the highest increase of any state, according to TOP Data.
Idahoans donated an average of $1,031 to charity in 2020, the report found.
That's no surprise to Capt. Jake Bieker, Coeur d'Alene Fire Department.
Coeur d'Alene Firefighters conducted a “Mobile Santa” Food Drive annually for over 18 years, and 2020 was a record-breaker.
They collected $3,200, besting the previous record $746, and over 7,000 pounds of food, beating the previous record of 2,500.
"It is very humbling to experience so many people supporting those in our community who need it right now," Bieker said.
Other organizations in North Idaho received strong charitable support.
The Press Christmas for All program to help those in need topped $300,000 in contributions, besting the 2011 record of $238,105.
"I've never seen anything like this," said Press Publisher and CFA volunteer Clint Schroeder. "Every time I thought we'd hit the ceiling, donors created a higher ceiling."
The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign received $312,501.80, well beyond its target of $190,000.
Other nonprofits, Toys for Tots, Kootenai Humane Society and St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho reported steady donations and holiday gifts. The Press routinely published pictures of donations from hundreds of dollars to thousands.
Ladies in the 9-hole Tuesday morning league at Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course presented a $575 check to Safety Net at Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty last month.
The fire department's Mobile Santa program entailed decorating a 1947 Buffalo fire engine with thousands of Christmas lights, escorting Santa through neighborhoods, handing out candy canes and collecting food and money for the local food bank.
When COVID-19 hit the community earlier in the year, the firefighters held an additional food drive named “Christmas in Quarantine."
The six-day event turned 125 volunteer hours into $3,786 and 8,000 pounds of food that went to Community Action Partnership in Coeur d'Alene.
The yearly combined totals were 56 off-duty firefighters; 365-plus hours volunteered; 3,000-plus candy canes handed out; $6,986 dollars collected; 15,000 pounds of food donated.
Bieker wrote that 2020 was a year that presented a lot of challenges for many people.
"It has been inspiring to witness our community rise to meet that challenge by giving more of themselves and helping their fellow community members," he wrote.
TOP Data reported that across the nation, 40 states saw an increase in charitable contributions.
TOP Data's other key findings:
• $608 — The amount donated to charity by the average American in 2020.
• 74% — The percentage of millennials who gave money to charity in 2020.
• 25% — The percentage increase in national charitable contribution Dec. 2020 vs. Dec. 2019.
• 16% — The percentage of Americans who will donate all or part of their $600 stimulus check.
"Our data shows that there is hope that this trend could extend into 2021 with 16% of Americans planning to donate all or part of their $600 stimulus check," a TOP Data press release said.