SPIRIT LAKE - These senior women - all four of them - are refusing to let Spirit Lake's Fourth of July festivities fizzle.

Joy Porter, Ginger Seely, Madeline Jarvis and Verla Reed are all that's left of Spirit Lake Visions, a nonprofit formed in the late 1980s to create a sense of community, especially with youth.

The foursome are doing whatever it takes - making handmade items, selling raffle tickets and booths for activities in the park, working with businesses on donations and organizing the parade - to reach the $3,500 fundraising goal for the town's fireworks show. They need $1,000 to get there.

"If we don't get enough, we'll stand out on the street and shake hands as cars pass by on the way to the fireworks," Porter said.

The four women have comprised the nonprofit for the past three years.

"We would welcome more help, but we realize that people come and go," Porter said. "Others participate for awhile or, if we really need the help, some will step forward. But we are the basis for it.

"A lot of people just don't want to belong to an organization any more."

Several years ago, the group grew to about 20 members before the number dwindled.

The group has been spearheading Spirit Lake's Fourth celebration since 1994. This year's activities include a parade at 11 a.m., activities in City Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and fireworks at Volunteer Park on the east end of Jefferson at 10 p.m.

The four are also behind Labor Day festivities, an Easter egg hunt and Christmas gifts for those in need. They meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at Reed's home to discuss the next community event.

"I just want to do something for the kids," said Reed of why she has stayed involved for 18 years. "Children are important people."

Porter, a fixture in front of Miller's Harvest Foods who sells raffle tickets during the weekends leading up to the Fourth, said helping out is a labor of love.

"I consider it my social life, except I don't have to cook for anyone," she said.

Reed, the lone woman left who was a part of the original Visions group of eight, is in charge of the booths at the park and makes quilts and scarves.

"Verla is the glue," Jarvis said. "She gets things done."

Jarvis is handy with beads and kids games, while Seely helps out in any way she can.

Jarvis said the four keep their goal in mind and don't let opinions escalate.

"We discuss, but don't argue," she said. "We know what we want as a group and focus on that. People love what we do and the parents seem to like it. It's for the kids."

Porter said spearheading community events can get overwhelming, but it's worth it.

"If we wouldn't do it, who would?" Porter said.

How to help Spirit Lake, Rathdrum fireworks funds

Spirit Lake Visions, a nonprofit consisting of four senior women, is raising funds to pay for the Spirit Lake fireworks show. The group needs to raise $1,000 to pay for the $3,500 fireworks show. Donations for the fireworks can be sent to: Spirit Lake Visions, P.O. Box 876, Spirit Lake 83869 or dropped off in cans at Spirit Lake businesses. For the Rathdrum fireworks show, which was Wednesday night, donations can be made at the Washington Trust Bank or Stein's Market in Rathdrum, online at www.MarketPad.com/RathdrumFireworksGroup or by mail to: Rathdrum Fireworks Group, 8580 W. Yosemite, Rathdrum, ID 83858.