Toys for kids, in honor of Ezra
Jonathan and Alyssa Smith carry in toys on Tuesday being donated to Toys for Tots at its building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
BILL BULEY/Press
Nick Deem carries toys on Tuesday that are being donated to Toys for Tots at its building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
Alyssa Smith sets toys on a table being donated to Toys for Tots at its building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Tuesday.
COEUR d'ALENE — Ezra Richards was not quite 4 years old when he died of a rare liver cancer.
Jonathan and Alyssa Smith are friends of Ezra's family, and honored his memory Tuesday by donating more than 1,000 toys to Toys for Tots.
"He didn’t get to have a childhood but he's impacting children all over," Alyssa Smith said.
The Smiths and Nick Deem are owners of Cutting Edge Customs in Post Falls. They held their fourth annual toy drive on Saturday.
In year one, the drive brought in about 150 toys. In year two, it was 280. Last year about 1,000. And this year, it was a huge success, with 1,125 toys dropped off.
Alyssa Smith attributes the success of their efforts to an increase in awareness about the toy drive and a growth in their business with an strong customer base.
Cutting Edge Customs specializes in the aftermarket parts and accessories outfitting of off-road trucks, Jeeps and other vehicles.
Alyssa Smith said in less than three years of being open, they had to move to a larger shop. And within six months, they moved again, this time to 3340 E Quad Park Ct.
They were pleased by the strong support for the toy drive and glad to do what they could to honor Ezra and his family.
"We like being involved in the community," Alyssa Smith said. "We're a small, local business that gives back to the community
