CARDBOARD CITY: Grateful for support

The City of Cardboard was a great event due to many businesses, donors, participants, and volunteers. We are grateful to all of you.

Thank you for the support school district No. 271 and Principal Bill Rutherford gave us. The venue at Fernan Elementary was perfect. We had access to electricity, restrooms, a kitchen, and a beautiful setting. They even provided local deer to greet us in the morning. Reserve officers Corky and Diane were there for us providing security and stuffed animals for the kids. Pyramid Printing designed the bright green T-shirts and sponsored part of the cost. The soup kitchen had delicious soups and breads provided by volunteers and Caruso's Deli. Sandy Smail helped provide s'more ingredients and the firepits glowed while we roasted marshmallows and listened to the music of the band Evidence of the Unseen. Pastries and More provided a special CardBoard Box City Cake for a late evening treat. In the morning we had a "continental" breakfast provide by Panhandle Kiwanis.

Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson opened the city with a ribbon cutting and a reminder that our region has numerous homeless families with children and he appreciated the efforts of the participants to raise funds for Family Promise of North Idaho.

We appreciate the prizes donated by: Holiday Inn Express; NexGen; Janet Stevens; Bill Burch; the Incredible Corn Maze; Russ H.; Sweetwater Bakery; and Top This, which ensured delightful cardboard homes from the participants and a great time for judges Chelsea Cordova and Sara Forsythe.

Family Promise of North Idaho also cannot thank our sponsors enough. It is through their generosity that we can meet our operational costs and serve our guests. Thank you to: Blvds: Windermere Realty and Select Properties; Avenues: Idaho Independent Bank and Coeur d'Alene Kiwanis; Streets: Bankcda; Apex Plumbing; Inland Northwest Bank; PayneWest Insurance; Element Dental; S. San Carlos; Maureen Bogle; and Bill and Teri Burch; Courts: Taylor Made; Mike Delong and Kristen Johnson both of Century 21 Realty. Thank you to Silver Creek Signs for turning our donors names into street signs and creating a city street ambiance.

Watch our supportive reader boards next October at ACI, Knutsen Chevrolet, Community 1st Bank and schools throughout the region for CARDBOARD BOX CITY 2015 at Community United Methodist Church Oct. 9-10, 2015.

A special thanks to Sarah for sharing her story of being homeless, pregnant, and being able to get compassionate help from FPNI, their staff and network congregations.

Sincerely,

TERI BURCH

President of the Board FPNI