Donor buys lunch for Coeur d’Alene police

COEUR d’ALENE — Red Robin delivered a feast to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department on Monday, courtesy of a local resident.

“I’ve always loved the police. Always,” said Karen, the donor who declined to give her last name. “I pray for them all the time, especially when I hear a siren.”

The special delivery, enough to feed 25 people, included burgers, chicken wraps and strips, corn dogs and salads. Officers arrived to thank their benefactor as their lunch was readied.

“I wanted to lift their morale if I could, and the Lord spoke to my heart and said, ‘You need to do something special for the police,’” Karen said. “Here I am.”

Kayla Lundgren made the delivery for Red Robin. While they have done some similar deliveries for teachers, this was the first for police. She said the restaurant added to the order, too.

“This is awesome,” she said.

Capt. Dave Hagar said the gift was very much appreciated.

“We live in an amazing community and the support is so great,” he said. “Seeing this and the times we’re going through, it just really gives the officers the reassurance that our community has our back.”

He said local officers are affected by what’s happening nationwide with the anger expressed toward police departments and calls to defund them.

“All they want to do is serve our community and help out the folks that live here,” he said.

That’s another reason why they have a great relationship with the community, Hagar said, and the delivery from Red Robin just re-enforces that.

“This is truly who represents our community,” he said.

Glen Campbell, a friend of Karen’s, said with all the negative publicity about police officers, she wanted to do something positive for them without any fanfare.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” he said.

Karen Hansen, another friend, said Karen “has always wanted to just bring healing to the police department nationwide.”

She said Karen wanted to thank them for putting their lives on the line, every day they go to work.

“She just has a heart of gold,” Karen Hansen said, adding, “a servant’s heart.

“That’s my friend, Karen.”