Community's support very much appreciated

On April 23, Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. held a fundraising event at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Funds raised will be used to support the valuable programs, such as home-delivered meals, meals served daily at the Sandpoint Senior Center and in the DayBreak Center, an adult day care facility for families dealing with dementia and memory issues, and educational and social programs at the Senior Center. Over 20,000 meals are provided annually to area seniors who, in many instances, rely on their meals as their main source of nutrition.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and to those who purchased raffle and silent auction items. The success of any event is made possible by people like you who give of your time and money to be there and help make events such as this possible. Those who attended were treated to fabulous food provided by Ivano’s, Tango Café, Trinity, Winter Ridge and the SASi Cafe.

Special thanks to Encoder who donated a week in Hawaii for our raffle, which was a great success. Thanks to our co-sponsors, Bob Wynhausen, Bonner Community Food Bank, Angie Aller and The Bridge, Francine Reed, the Panida Theatre, Peak Sand and Gravel, and “anonymous” for their help and to Sharon Bistodeau and Bonner General Health for the first aid tent.

Evening entertainment was provided by Diane Peters and her ballroom dance team (Robin Maloney and Aza Dhaenens, Jan and Doug Vann, Jenny and Marty Jones, Geri Schaaf and Jerry Balavage, and Joanna Holub and Morgan Gariepy) who impressed everyone with their amazing dance skills and choreography. Thanks also to Rhonda Livingston and her staff at the Fairgrounds, Dave Nygren on lights and the D.J., Jake Robin, who provided great dance tunes for the entire evening. Paralee and Tim Gates, and Dawn Rice were invaluable with the auction checkout. Thanks also to the Daily Bee and the Reader for their awesome P.R. support. Deserving of special recognition are Adele Martin and her team of volunteers, especially Emmy Keiser and Lynn Harpe, and to senior center employees, staff and board members.

For their donations to the silent auction, we would like to especially thank: 5th Avenue/Mitzy’s Lounge, All Seasons Garden & Floral, Alpine Motors, Avondale Golf Club, Barley Baked Goods, Bonner Animal Hospital, Bountiful Organics, Bristles & Combs Salon, Devon Chapman, Eco Green Designs, Edward Jones, Elks Lodge, Festival at Sandpoint, Gail Lyster, Gayle Williams, Holiday Inn Express, Huckleberry Lanes, Hydra, I Saw Something Shiny, Idaho Club, Jalapeno’s Judy Pederson, Kay Berry, Ken Wood, La Quinta Inn, Litehouse, Inc., Little Orange House Photography, Lolo Thompson, Loris Michael, Lovely Nails, Mary McGinnis, Mary Stevens, Mickduff’s, Monarch Massage, Mouse & Me, Mr. Sub, Nancy Savage, Old Tree Woodworking, Panhandler Pies, Pat Gooby, Pend d’Oreille Winery, Pend Oreille Shores, Rokstad Ford, Sandpoint West Athletic Club, Shirley Davis, Silverwood Theme Park, Six Star Automotive, South Fork Hardware, Stacey’s Country Kitchen, Stoneridge Country Club, Susan Kean, Suzanne Jewell, Sweet Lou’s, Taylor & Sons, The Idaho Club, The Ranch Club, Tidy Tops, Twin Lakes Village Golf Club and Wendy Wendle.

As always this community comes through and please know, we can’t do this alone. We appreciate and continue to need your donations and support. Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. is a non-profit organization and benefits from a limited number of grants, but these funds are not enough to cover the programs provided here in Bonner County – which so many older residents depend upon daily. Donations by check, cash or credit card may be made by contacting the Senior Center at 263-6860. Please call today to see how you can be of help.

Ellen Weissman is the executive director of Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc., and Loris Michael is a SASi board member and fundraising chairperson.