Clark Fork Valley Hospital’s Long-Term Care Facility recently held their annual Bazaar, which benefits the patients.

All the items that were to be sold were donated by the community. The selection of items included baked goods donated by the school, Christmas decorations, children’s toys, hand-made scarves and hats donated by a local, and much more.

The event has been held every year for over 17 years. All the money went directly to the patients who have a monthly Resident Council Meeting to vote on where to use the funds to improve their lives at the facility.

The staff explained how important the money is to their patients, making them feel more at home and allowing them to feel as though they still have a little control over their lives, as explained by Del Smith, the activities coordinator with the Long-Term Care Facility.

A local shopping around the Bazaar, Judy Stephens, talked about the community being so warm to the facility, saying “this is a really good community for giving to each other.”

The last big purchase the residents made was a new step machine. Before that they purchased electronic window blinds to make opening the windows easier.

In the past they have also purchased new dining room tables, made by the Amish, along with dinning room chairs that they ordered out of a catalog.

Smith explained how much good the money does for the patients. He also described how he helps advise the Resident Council on where best to use their funds, as well as ordering the items himself when they come to an agreement on how to use the donations.

During the bazaar donations were also accepted and some of those funds will be used, along with anything left over from the bazaar, to participate in next year’s county-wide yard sale.