Hot (cocoa) for Hawaii
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 11 months AGO
Photo courtesy Martin White Elijah White sells hot cocoa and baked goods to raise money for a singing trip to Hawaii this summer.
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | January 13, 2023 1:05 AM
POST FALLS — Elijah White wants to sing in Hawaii, so naturally, he’s selling hot cocoa in Post Falls.
The 16-year-old was chosen to join the Honor Choir USA for a pair of performances in June on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Before he can go, he needs to raise $3,500.
With a little help, he's getting there.
Last month, he raised $760 selling bread, cookies and hot chocolate on a cold day outside his home.
“I was very surprised,” White said Wednesday. “I thought it was only going to raise like $200.”
Try triple that.
Family, friends and passersby stopped at 2111 N. Ninth St. to support his quest and buy hot cocoa made by Elijah White, and cookies and bread made by his mother, Kelly White, and grandmother, Terri Dupey.
It did so well, White will be out there again from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and probably again next month.
Honor Choir USA is selective.
It is designed for choral singers who have qualified for All-State or have been referred by their choral directors.
The son of Martin and Jelly White attends North Idaho STEM Charter Academy. He sings bass, the lowest male voice.
"This would be a very good opportunity for me," White said.
When they visit Oahu June 13-19, they will be singing before some of the finest college instructors in the country.
Their first performance will be on the battleship USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. The second will be at Kawaiaha’o Church, Hawaii’s oldest.
White is looking forward to his days in the sun, even if it means days in the cold of North Idaho.
"I love singing," he said.
ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
As if to prove it, signs on two kennel doors proclaim “I have been adopted! I’m currently waiting to be picked up by my new parents.” One is a timid black mastiff. But the shelter remains crowded. Monday, it has about 50 large dogs filling kennels, including in the new wing oped this year, and there is still a four-month waiting list with names of about 80 dogs that people are looking to surrender pets.
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Grassi, a longtime hunter and fisherman, started what was originally called “Let’s Go Fishing Ministry, Inc.” with a focus on outdoors, men and God. It was later changed to “Men’s Ministry Catalyst." The emphasis was on helping men understand their role as defined in the Bible.
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
The Young Family’s Foundation launched about a year ago with a mission "to empower young, hardworking families to achieve the dream of home ownership. Even if a family saved $25,000, they would still be $19,000 short of the down payment needed to buy a $550,000 home, which is the median price in Kootenai County. It’s estimated that only about 20% of area households can afford to buy a home.