VETERANS: Donations have been helpful

This is an open letter to publicly thank our Veteran's organizations for helping to make a positive impact on the young people in our community.

Your donations have allowed four young men the opportunity to spend two weeks at the Devil Pups program at Camp Pendleton, Marine Corp Base in California. Without the help of the Kootenai County Veterans Council, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3603, Post Falls, Marine Corps League, Pappy Boyington Det. No. 966 in Coeur d'Alene, these young men would not have the opportunity to benefit from the lessons learned in forming young adults for their life's tasks.

On behalf of all the young men who attended the camp this year, sincere thanks for making the commitment to help strengthen their characters and giving them direction for the future to come.

Kudos to all of you!

DR. JAMES C. PARK

LMFT Retired

Post Falls

CAMP: Made possible due to community

As Hospice of North Idaho wraps up our second Kid's Grief Camp, Camp Kaniksu, we would like to offer a sincere thanks to our generous community for making it possible.

Camp Kaniksu is a free camp providing grieving children a place to connect with others, learn about the grief process and honor their loved ones. At this year's camp which took place July 12-14, the 22 attendees were able to enjoy the beautiful Lutherhaven grounds on Lake Coeur d'Alene. They participated in team building activities such as a ropes course, experienced small group time to work through feelings surrounding their loss, and participated in hands-on activities, like creating personalized memory boxes and candles in honor of their loved ones.

We could not have done this without the help of numerous volunteers and generous donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses in our community. A special thanks to all the volunteers who helped prepare for and spent time at the camp, supporting and assisting Hospice of North Idaho staff and campers.

Thank you to the attendees of the 2013 Hospice Wine Taste, as donations made during the event largely sponsored the camp. Thank you to our sponsor, The 3Cs, to Fred Meyer and Walmart for in-kind donations, and to the North Idaho Quilters for donating blankets.

And finally, thank you to all the individual donors who contributed funds to Camp Kaniksu. This important camp was made possible through community collaboration with the mission of helping children process through their grief in a loving and safe environment.

With gratitude,

HOSPICE OF NORTH IDAHO BEREAVEMENT TEAM

AMBER: Thanks for donations

We would like to thank everyone who participated in "A Night for Amber" fundraiser to raise funds for her medical quest to start her journey back from the ravages of Crohn's disease. We are hoping insurance will approve her bone marrow transplant soon. Almost $20,000 has been raised via online donations and/or the event of July 9.

Specifically we want to say a special thank you to the following businesses and individuals for so generously donating services and goods for the silent auction/raffle: Iron Canvas Creations, Alpine Animal Hospital, Bug Chucker, Fratelli Salon, Optima Dental, Megan Bertram/Scentsy, Good Dog, Angel Gallery, Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center, Vision Source, Awakenings Acupuncture, ROW, Everson's Jewelry, Active Family Healthcare, Figpickels, Kelly Tuntland/Realtor, Custom Laminate Countertop Solutions, Noah Couser Photography, HM Photography, Artisan Portrait, Bill Rutherford, Stephanie Byrd, Leejay Junker, Paul Brock, friends of Ness Elementary, Jennifer Fletcher, NW Pet Resort, Truelife Canvas, Benewah Designs, Earthly Beauty, Carlson's Hidden Cottage, Rhonda Hendrickson/3B Studio, Lucky Monkey, Pilates, Bakery by the Lake, Lean Bean, Dr. Culhum, Brien McCrae, Kathy Beechler, Mary Sorenson, Underground Expressions, Kirk's Espresso, Sandra Kay's, Hudson's, Del Sol, Coeur d'Alene Chocolates, Maggie May, Coeur d'Alene Olive Oil Co., Marmalade, Louie Permelia, Finan McDonald, Mother's Haven and Custom Stitchery.

And a HUGE and heartfelt THANK YOU to all who came out to the fundraiser to show your love and support of Amber; it meant so much! Another thanks to the Renovators for the great music and Pita Pit for the great food, and also to O'Shay's for providing their beer garden for the event. Even more thanks to all who sent donations via mail or online. Amber's community came together in a great way to share in her fight, and it will forever be remembered and appreciated by us.

Gratefully,

AMBER, WARRYN, SHARON, GRAHAM and KRISTI HANSON