Free 'closet' fills needs and hearts

On Monday. I made new friends at my old high school. Lakes Middle School is where I attended high school with the last class to graduate from those hallowed halls before the new high school opened in the fall of 1970. Now it’s a bustling middle school of sixth, seventh and eighth graders, those in-between years where you’re not a little kid but big kid status is just out of reach. It’s a pivotal time of changing bodies and emotions all over the place and where fitting in is a priority.

Enter the women of Christ the King Lutheran Church, who a decade ago stepped up to fill a need and a “closet” with new clothing, shoes, socks, underwear, hygiene products and more at the school. On Monday, Joan Ortmann was joined by Calli Griffel, Denise Muhly, Jan Trout and Susan Jennings to provide a tour. I was with Lori Cogley, community relations specialist for Kootenai Electric Cooperative, where I was recently appointed to the KEC Trust Board. Through the Operation Roundup program, the board had awarded a $2,500 grant to the church for the Lakes free closet.

In our conversations that day with Joan and friends, it was apparent that they were driven by compassion, empathy and love for these young people who may be having challenges at home and just want to fit in. Some of their stories of students tugged at the heartstrings. The women may be seniors, age-wise ,but they’re definitely dialed in to what kids are wearing and sensitive to not making charity feel like charity.

There are so many acts of generosity throughout our communities that I’m fortunate to shine a light on in this column each week. Here’s to the Lutheran ladies of Christ the King and to those who do quiet good works in every corner of our communities, who look around for a need and step in to make a difference.

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Wrapping up homecoming royalty shout-outs for our local schools … congratulations to Lakeland Homecoming King Lincoln Wood and Queen Caitlin Eliuk; Coeur d’Alene Homecoming King Nolan Christ and Queen Carli Flowers.

For those who are focused on the football aspect of homecoming, both the Hawks and the Vikings won their games, too.

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So sad to report that Don Ziegler, who along with his beautiful bride Veda, was featured in this column last month in celebration of the couple’s incredible 75 years of marriage, has died. What wonderful memories his family will cherish of the anniversary celebration where love was the centerpiece and everyone was together. Condolences to all.

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How many days until Christmas? 68. Two months and a day or two! And for those keeping track, the first day of summer arrives in 240 days.

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Happy birthday today to Arlene Pischner, Keith Erickson, Terry Gurno, Will Wolff, Kevin Clement, Kathy Reid and Lauri Armon. Tomorrow, Dan Gookin, Tom Hamilton, Bobbi Koep, Louise Jackson, Linda Chapman and Holly Hall. turn the page on the calendar. On Friday, ageless and fabulous Mary Lou Reed turns 93 sharing a birthdate with Luke Malek, Mary Willeford, Jodie Krieg, Nick Peacock (40!), Brooke Litalien and Jerry Lee. On Saturday, Carly Goodlander, Mike Threadgill, Monika Krapfl and Paul Mikel do the birthday dance. Wish Jazmine Brown, Whitney Brown, Dick Brantley, Sara Fetters and Chastin Jaeger a happy birthday on Sunday. Our youngest grandson, Connor, turns 20 on Monday, sharing a birthday with Teddy Allred, Greg Helbling, Nathan Tull, Holly Hansen, Christopher Adamson, Tim Snyder and Margaret VanLeuven. Oct. 24 birthday celebrants are Rocky Banks, Melissa Hjeltness, Adam Slobodow, Randy Millsap and David Ingalls.

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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.