Slay it for Jay fundraiser brings in about $15,000

RATHDRUM — The people of Rathdrum never disappoint when it comes to supporting one of their own.

On Monday evening, O'Malley's Sports Pub and Grill on Highway 53 was alive with music, raffles and big-hearted fun as people gathered to raise money for 42-year-old pilot Jay Schrank and his family.

Schrank, of Rathdrum, was almost killed in a June 23 helicopter crash along Highway 41. He sustained burns over 40% of his body and is being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Jim Charbonneau, 78, of Spokane, who was in the helicopter with Schrank, died at Harborview three days after the crash after being in critical condition.

"Once people found out about (Jay) and needing stuff, they came out of the woodwork," O'Malley's manager Christie Guerber said. "It still has that small-town feel, and when somebody's in need, this community just pours in the support and love for their people."

The Slay it for Jay event brought in about $15,000 for the Schrank family. O'Malley's donated all proceeds of beverages and food to the family, "and people were just donating money," Guerber said.

About 300 people attended the shindig, which featured generous numbers of gift baskets and donated raffle items.

"We were spread out everywhere," Guerber said. "We had a band out in the grass. We were trying to keep people social distancing."

She gave kudos to solo guitarist Mike Hensley, who donated all his tips to the cause.

"He made the night, too," Guerber said. "And his entertainment, it was so good."

Guerber explained that Jay's wife, Shannon, has worked off and on at O'Malley's through the years, so the staff is close with the family. A handful of servers took it upon themselves to plan the event in just a few weeks.

She reported that Jay is off the ventilator, out of the ICU and now in the burn unit. He is on his last skin graft surgery.

"That’s been some of his most challenging hurdles,” she said. "He had pneumonia out the gate. They were trying to get him to be strong enough."

When asked what Jay might think of O'Malley's throwing a huge party for him, Guerber laughed.

"A beer probably sounds really good to him,” she said. "I'm sure he's going to be overwhelmed. But for all of them, that’s their strength, is knowing how much support the community has for them."