Cd'A Ladies 9-Hole Golf Club chips in $5K for students

A $5,000 donation from the Coeur d’Alene Ladies 9-Hole Golf League will support Kootenai County students in need through the Coeur Community Closet program. 

“This is really generous,” said Coeur Community Closet Director and Founder Paula Lyon as she accepted the gift Thursday.  

Lyon and Coeur Community Closet have clothing closets at Coeur d’Alene High School and Lake City High School. They give North Idaho’s youth access to simple, clean clothes and laundry soap; professional clothing for job interviews, conferences and other professional ventures; and seasonal wear for Idaho’s variable weather.

Lyon also provides scrubs and welding clothes for students at K-Tech in Rathdrum.   

“I make sure everything is distributed,” she said. 

Sherrill McCullough, president of the ladies golf club, said that they came across Coeur Community Closet through another charitable venture and really liked what they were providing. 

“We like anything involving kids,” said Vice President Terry McNabb. “There’s a lot of underserved children.” 

For many years, the Golf league used its extra funds to fund events and decorations. However. six years ago. the league decided to put it toward something bigger. 

“We’re all older, we don’t need a lot of this stuff,” said McCullough. “Now we put the money towards something, it’s really great.”     

Lyon, also the Homeless Liaison for the Coeur d’Alene School District, said the need for aid is really high in North Idaho. 

“It’s worse than ever,” said Lyon. 

Lyon explained that this has been the “hardest summer ever” for area nonprofits because of the high demand for services. She said that she is working with more families staying in hotels and campgrounds than ever. Lyon added that many of the youths she works with are living without one or both parents.  

“Grandparents and relatives, who live on a fixed income, are raising kids,” she said. 

Another challenge Lyons has faced is rising costs. She said that she could buy dress shoes for the Community Closet at Walmart for $21. Now, she said, those same shoes cost $37. 

“Everything is expensive,” she said. “We’re very thrifty.”  

Coeur Community Closet can accept monetary and physical donations. If interested in volunteering or donating, visit their Facebook page or email [email protected].