Sunrise Rotary makes 'Express' delivery to school
Photo courtesy Jessica Rude Sunrise Rotary donated about $1,000 worth of items to Bryan Elementary School on Wednesday. Back row, from left, Shane Greenfield, Coeur Group; Isaac Myers, Bryan Elementary; Nick Madsen, Coeur Group, and Dave Dean, Sunrise Rotary. From row, from left, Kriss Rhodes, Bryan Elementary; Marissa Owen, Bryan Elementary; Michael Rude, Coeur Group; Jessicca Rude, Sunrise Rotary, and Kristin Gorringe, Bryan Elementary.
COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene Sunrise Rotary Club made an "Express" delivery Wednesday to fill the Coeur Group Locker at Bryan Elementary School.
The club delivered about 120 items including jackets, sweatshirts, sweatpants, shoes and socks for students.
It was funded through $600 in member donations and $400 from a district "Express Grant."
Jessica Rude and Dave Dean spearheaded the project for the Rotary Club and worked with the Coeur Group "to create fantastic results for all of those involved."
"We believed it was a great initiative and wanted to partner in any way we could," Jessica Rude said.
The Coeur Group's Locker program, for 15 years, has provided necessities to Kootenai County students.
Last year, the Coeur Group provided about $50,000 in money and items to 22 schools.
This includes toiletries such as deodorant and toothpaste, socks and underwear, and gloves and coats.
The group works with schools to construct custom cabinets and keep them stocked with items students need most.
"Often, we don't directly get to see their use. However, yesterday as we dropped off donations at Bryan Elementary and stood by the locker talking amongst ourselves as we loaded in donations, in no more than 15 minutes we saw three different kids come in seeking what we know the lockers to offer," a statement from the Coeur Group said. "Necessities. A humbling realization of the impact of the locker program, for several of us in that moment."
Rude said the Sunrise Rotary Club wants to make students feel safe and warm and the donation will help do just that.
"No child should feel ashamed of who they are and sometimes a new favorite piece of clothing could help bring out their confidence," she said.