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For the kids

BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 4 months AGO
by BILL BULEY
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. | June 17, 2023 1:05 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — After Mike Hamilton pushed and then emptied yet another wheelbarrow of bark at Children's Village, he stopped for a moment.

"I think nothing's better than helping kids," he said. "I think children’s innocence is one of the most important things in the world."

It was that sentiment that saw about 50 volunteers carrying out tasks all around Hamilton on a sunny Friday. It was a smooth operation, with duties planned and assigned in advance.

They weeded, raked, trimmed, planted, hauled, cleared and cleaned for about five hours on Windermere Realty Coeur d'Alene's Community Service Day.

Windermere real estate agents, managers, owners and staff from over 300 offices across the western United States gather in June and devote a workday to making a positive change in their communities, a press release said.

The Coeur d'Alene crew once again reported to Children's Village, where Corey Ray repaired about 40 bikes and made them roadworthy again.

He fixed flats, adjusted brakes and oiled chains. While it sounds like a grind, for Ray it was a pleasure.

"Everyone loves riding a bike as a kid," he said.

Ray said some of the bikes had names on them.

"Makes you think back when you were a kid, maybe what you did with your bike," he said.

Heidi Miller weeded the volleyball court, which was a chore the volleyball player gladly took on.

"I wanted to do that for sure because I know the kids would appreciate it," she said.

Vanessa Moos, Children's Village chief executive officer, said without the volunteer workforce, it would be difficult to maintain their 15 acres.

"Windermere's community day is crucial to us, making our campus look as homey as we want it to look for the kiddos who live here," she said.

Moos pitched in, setting up an art shed and doing some weeding, too.

"We’re all hands on deck," she said.

Windermere’s Community Service Day was established in 1984.

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BILL BULEY/Press

Mike Hamilton pushes a wheelbarrow of bark during Windermere Realty Coeur d'Alene's Community Service Day at Children's Village on Friday.

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BILL BULEY/Press

Heidi Miller sweeps during Windermere Realty Coeur d'Alene's Community Service Day at Children's Village on Friday.

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BILL BULEY/Press

Corey Ray poses among some of about 40 bikes he repaired at Children's Village during Windermere Realty Coeur d'Alene's Community Service Day on Friday.

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