Hospice 'Seas the Day' with $250K

“Seas the Day!” is precisely what the community did last Saturday at Hospice of North Idaho’s 37th annual Wine Taste and Auction.

With over 400 guests and sponsors at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, attendees raised their glasses and bidder numbers to raise almost $250,000 to support the area’s only nonprofit hospice of over 40 years.

“It was great to see so many new faces attend our event, and it demonstrates that those moving to our beloved area align with the values close to our hearts,” said Kim Ransier, executive director of Hospice of North Idaho.

This year’s theme was a Caribbean flare, with bright colors and energetic steel drums playing through the speakers.

The evening consisted of local wine distributors showcasing the finest wines, 11 local food vendors with gourmet appetizers and desserts, silent auction, and 19 live auction packages, such as a medieval dining experience, a Disneyworld family vacation, or a week stay in Honduras.

The “Paddle Raise” portion of the live auction brought in over $40,000 for Hospice of North Idaho’s Schneidmiller Hospice House, specialized equipment deemed the “Cuddle Bed.”

“We raised enough for not one, not two, but three “Cuddle Beds," a release said.

The beds expand with a touch of a button to a full-size bed to allow family members to “cuddle” with their loved ones during this very sacred time.

Funds raised help Hospice of North Idaho continue to provide care for those who are seriously ill and those touched by loss in Kootenai, Shoshone, and Benewah counties.