3Cs distributes $16,000 to local senior meals, food banks

Even though members of Cancer and Community Charities (3Cs) are missing their social time, they haven't wasted any time finding ways to help their neighbors.

Members of the Twisted Stitchers and Crafty Crew 3Cs activity groups have sewn hundreds of fabric face masks to help protect people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales and donations from roughly 1,500 masks have generated $16,000 for the benevolent nonprofit, which has decided to donate those funds to support local food banks and meal programs including senior center meals, food banks and Meals on Wheels, which delivers prepared meals to homebound seniors.

"I can't say enough about those guys. They are just amazing," Hayden Senior Center financial controller Lisa Martin said Monday. "They have been so, so great."

With coronavirus closures, Martin said the Hayden Senior Center has been delivering and preparing curbside meal service for about 100 people a week. She was surprised and grateful when 3Cs President Barbara Newland called to let her know a check was on its way.

As a nonprofit, the Hayden Senior Center has no revenue right now, Martin said. This will help keep operations going until life returns to normal.

"Without those funds, I don't know that we could keep this going,” she said.

The Rathdrum Food Bank is also a recipient of the mask money. Food bank manager Sharon Dillon said these funds will help buy food items like potatoes, cheese, eggs and bread. The Rathdrum Food bank serves up to 150 families each month.

"3Cs has been a generous contributor of monies to our food bank," Dillon said. "We are extremely blessed and gracious and we thank them for their donation."

Normally, 3Cs members fundraise through activity clubs, meetings and events like the spring fashion show that was canceled because of coronavirus restrictions. Since the group formed in 1962, it has given away more than $2 million to Kootenai County charities and causes.

Newland said she's always incredibly proud of 3Cs and the work members are doing to make, collect and deliver these masks.

"I'm sad we can’t have meetings. The girls love getting together," she said. "These gals are very talented. They can sew these things and put them together and they're more than happy to do it. These are fabulous ladies."

Email [email protected] or visit www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyCrew208 for information or to order a 3Cs handmade fabric mask.