Annual event warms the hearts of all

The Holidays and Heroes program began in Post Falls 25 years ago. The Post Falls Police Department has taken the lead since the beginning in conjunction with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and all of the first responding agencies in Kootenai County. On the first Sunday of December for the last 15 years, Bert and I have volunteered as "secret shoppers" covertly accompanying a first responder and their assigned child.

The child has no idea that while they're shopping for their family with the officer, deputy or firefighter, the secret shoppers have a list for them, so they'll be surprised when they open presents on Christmas Day.

We love being part of that Christmas surprise and participation has always warmed our hearts at the generosity of those who donate to the program, the many volunteers at the Greyhound Park who wrap hundreds of presents, and Lutheran ladies who sew handmade quilts for each child. There are photos with Santa in a beautiful, royal blue Santa suit, who I learned was close personal friends with a Rathdrum police officer.

This year the event fell on the day following my mother’s funeral and I nearly asked to have my name taken off the list of volunteers. I’m so glad I didn’t. Along with daughter Sarah, on Sunday morning we were assigned as secret shoppers for Post Falls Police Sgt. Justin Anderson and the young boy paired with him.

There has never been extravagance on the children's lists just hopeful wishing for something special. We all know how prices have gone up on everything, especially on essentials, but already struggling families have been hit especially hard. It’s humbling and heartbreaking when the children want to buy items like toilet paper and laundry detergent as a gift for their families.

So much gratitude for all of the men and women in uniform who brighten the day and perhaps the future of the youngsters in our communities. A timely reminder that "maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

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A few years ago, a wise friend who works with children in fragile family circumstances told me we should never tell children that Santa brings presents to children who've been good. There are so many good and wonderful children who won't see the things on their list from Santa under the tree on Christmas morning, through no fault of their own. So I've taken, "Have you been good this year?" out of my vocabulary, unless it's to children I'm intending to surprise with a Santa gift.

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A granddaughter, four grandsons and a great-grandson carried their grandmother to her final resting place next to their grandfather at Forest Cemetery on Saturday. Thirty members of our family traveled from Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, California, Texas, Washington, Utah and southern Idaho to celebrate my mother’s life. On behalf of them all, I’d like to express our gratitude to our friends at English Funeral Chapel, the City of Coeur d’Alene cemetery crews, the Coeur d’Alene Press, DAR and everyone who sent cards, flowers and offered condolences in person.

The circle of life through the generations illuminates the value and appreciation for that remarkable sense of community we are blessed to share.

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Postscript: One kind word can warm three winter months.

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Happy Birthday today to Kathy McDowell, Melanie Chun, Jocelyn Stott, Jennifer Hawkins and Kylie Allen. Tomorrow, Cheryl Fitting, Patricia Marrs, Nathan Smalley, Dean Opsal, Catherine Cronin, Rhonda Newton and Randy Duncan take another trip around the sun. On Friday, Tammy Schneider, Kelly Ferguson and Becky McIntire Bufeuillet will celebrate. Saturday, Debbie Findlay, Cecilia Fehling, Brandon Quigley, Cheri Banta, Melissa Williams and Cindy Jarnagin blow out the candles. Dick Wandrocke (90!), Shannon Clark, Richard Carlson, Burt Bachelder, Matthew Lemieux and Gavin Broadwater slice the birthday cake Sunday. Come Monday, Christina Petit, Steve Cronelius, Kathy Hughes, Duncan Menzies, Stephanie Hunter, Michael Matt, Katrina Mayer, Kym Hamby, Leigh Sales and Aleta English blow out the candles. Special birthday wishes on the 12th day of the 12th month to Margot Mitchell, Alexis Davis, Sialas Tripp, Mary Sanderson, Amy Alderman, John Austin, Mary Finley, Teresa Capone, Mark Orlowski, Konrad Hochhalter, Monte Miller, Richard Stevenette, Colleen Williams, Dave Sayers, Lynn Knapp and Jessica White.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune.  Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.