KELLOGG — The Wildcats may have beaten the Miners on the scoreboard, but it was Shoshone County as a whole who won Thursday night at Kellogg High School’s Warm Up the Silver Valley event. 

A first-of-its-kind event, organizer Lori Sawyer, who also coaches the school’s cheerleading program, had seen advertisements for the annual Teddy Bear Toss at the Spokane Chiefs hockey game and thought it would be fun to bring a similar event to Kellogg — but instead of stuffed animals, to provide warmer clothing for local children.

Not only was it fun, but it was supported beyond Sawyer’s wildest dreams. 

“I love our community,” Sawyer said. “Even people who already graduated and couldn’t attend sent me items.” 

As soon as the horn sounded to signal halftime during the boys basketball game Wednesday evening, it was a flurry of warm winter items being thrown to the court — perhaps a little sooner than Sawyer would’ve liked, but the lighthearted chaos that she’d imagined when she saw the Teddy Bear Toss was realized. 

After the items were collected by the members of the basketball team and cheerleaders, Sawyer began sorting them so she could have an idea of what she would be distributing — in all, the event generated 463 pairs of socks, 223 hats, 220 pairs of gloves, 22 coats, 14 headbands, seven scarves, four pairs of snow boots, as well as a handful of gaiters, blankets, long underwear, pajamas and snow pants. 

The items will be distributed to children from Mullan to Cataldo this week before many of the kids begin their holiday breaks — which is something Sawyer was very passionate about when she came up with the idea. 

“I would definitely say we did awesome,” Sawyer said. “My heart is so full right now and I am so overwhelmed with the generosity of people in this Valley and their big hearts to give to those who need. Seeing those items on the gym floor was just a feeling I cannot explain. It brought tears to my eyes and made my heart swell.”

Sawyer had hoped to make the event an annual occurrence, but after seeing the overwhelming success it was in year one, she’s guaranteeing that it will return in 2024.