Coeur d'Alene club donates $25,000 to local causes
Coeur d'Alene Garden Club members and grant and donations recipients gathered at the United Methodist Church in Coeur d'Alene on Tuesday for the event.
From left (back): Mackenzie Schroeder, Circle of Care; Pascale Cafferty, Developing Mind Academy; Heidi Benson, PB&J Haydeners; Deana Banks, PB&J Haydeners; Carolyn Jaeger, NIC Foundation; Ben Palumbo, Life Care Center of Post Falls; Dolly Studebaker, Turkeys and More; Kristina Kenny, Canopy Village; Laura Beyer, Canopy Village. From left (front): Melanie Droesch, NIC Foundation; Tiffany Allgood, volunteer at Lakes Middle School; Judy Bank…
JACK DeWITT/Press
Judy Feldner smiles while Dolly Studebaker thanks the Garden Club for their generosity after accepting the grant on Tuesday.
JACK DeWITT/PRESS
The Coeur d’Alene Garden Club gave out $25,000 in donations to local nonprofits Tuesday.
“This is an extraordinary accomplishment for a volunteer garden club,” said Garden Club President Jill Marfice.
The club raised funds through its 2026 Garden Tour, which was attended by about 500 people.
“We would not accomplish these goals without our generous sponsors, the patrons who tour the gardens and most importantly, the owners who share their gardens with our community,” Garden Tour Chair Judy Feldner said at United Methodist Church.
Fifteen organizations received donations or grants. They were: Developing Mind Academy, John Brown Elementary School, Hayden Meadows Elementary School, Lakes Middle School, Skyway Elementary, Fernan Stem Academy, PB&J Haydeners, Life Care Center of Post Falls, Kootenai County Fire Prevention Co-op, Canopy Village, Shared Harvest Community Garden, NIC Foundation, Turkeys and More, Ironwood CDA Rehab and Wings Rising Inc.
Feldner said their donations stay in the community.
“Gardening helps the mind, the spirit,” she said. “So, we make sure it’s all local.”
Deana Banks and Heidi Benson of PB&J Haydeners were thankful for the grant that will support their 4,800-square-foot garden in Hayden. With their most recent harvest, the duo donated over 12,000 pounds of fresh produce to those in need this year.
“We can get out there and do more work,” Banks said.
Life Care Center of Post Falls used a 2025 Coeur d’Alene Garden Club grant to upgrade a courtyard. Ben Palumbo, who accepted the grant for Life Care Center of Post Falls, said members helped with the upgrade work.
“They were excited to be in there and really help with the planting, the upkeep, all of that,” Palumbo said.
He said the response from last year's project led Life Care Center to focus this year’s grant toward another courtyard upgrade.
Feldner said the practice of gardening and horticulture in North Idaho is important, especially in regard to the agricultural and timber roots of the area. She said that focus should continue to be on education.
“I think people are starting to realize that you need grounding from gardening,” Feldner said.
Judy Feldner smiles while Dolly Studebaker thanks the Garden Club for their generosity after accepting the grant on Tuesday.