Christmas for All has touched the lives of thousands of Kootenai County residents over the last 36 years.

One local mother told us how much the generous readers of The Press helped her during a time when she was struggling.

Back then, she was raising her little girl on her own.

“I couldn’t get state aid because according to their guidelines, I made too much money,” she said. “But I couldn’t afford child care.”

She was working full-time and also going to college and didn’t spend money on herself at all. Still, there was never any money left for Christmas.

Press Christmas for All was there to help provide a little bit of holiday magic for her child.

“I was so grateful that there was a way for me to help her have that little bit of joy. If it hadn’t been for Christmas for All she wouldn’t have had a single gift all those years,” the mom said. “Now that things are a bit more stable, we like to find ways to help others out.”

She said she has made anonymous donations and participated in giving trees and similar holiday benefit campaigns.

“I want other children to have that little bit of magic, and I don’t want any parents to feel the way I always did when the holidays approached.”

Christmas for All helps everyone in need: struggling young families, seniors, people with disabilities and mental illnesses. Many are alone, and despair is common.

Through Christmas for All, these less fortunate neighbors feel the compassion of a caring community during what can be a very difficult time of year for them.

Each year, Press readers donate generously to the program. The money collected is distributed in the form of gift cards to those who might not otherwise be able to put a holiday meal on the table or purchase a small gift for a child.

Press Christmas for All is managed by The Hagadone Corp., with assistance from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. It is a legally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run entirely by volunteers at The Hagadone Corp., the Coeur d’Alene Press and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.

Every penny raised is distributed to needy Kootenai County residents. All overhead costs are covered by The Hagadone Corp. and the volunteers at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made by dropping off or mailing a check to: Press Christmas for All, 215 Second St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Online donations can be made by visiting goo.gl/WospPG.

Recent donors:

Tim and Kathryn Hunt; Bob and Sally MacKenzie “In memory of Sylvia Spain”; Gene and Barbara Neely; Charley and Karen Estes; Lawrence Gibbon; Mary Lou Wilson “In memory of Paul Wilson”; James Hill, Mark Hill and Monique Casper “In memory of Bobbie Hill”; WA and CF Delyea; Leland and Lyndell Erwin “In memory of Jeanette Branson”; Barbara Nelson; Daryl Wilson “In memory of Sue Wilson”; Virginia La Fleur; Richard Ness; Dennis and Teresa Wolfe; Pat Dyke; Donald and Maxine Schierman; Charles and Marialyce Miller; Bradley Stoddard; Ned and Diane Tower; Tom and Nancy Burke; St. Lukes Guild; Joan Word and Deidre Sindelar; Keith and Sandra Matheney.