Polson Police were helping kids try on tactical vests, and Polson firefighters were showing off a fire truck while families and children wandered down Third Avenue during the 2024 Day of Hope on Aug. 17. The annual event helps kids and families get the gear they need to start the new year.

 Music was playing from the Anderson Broadcasting stage trailer near The Cove, and there were enticing tents and trucks offering free food and household items from the Convoy of Hope. Local churches, such as Pablo Christian Church, offered free backpacks and Tribal Education gave away free backpacks and school supplies. Tribal Health had a tent as did the North Lake County Library and the Boy Scouts. 

There were local nonprofits, medical and dental providers, and more, including face painters from Glacier Bank. 

 The Day of Hope time was listed as 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but many people showed up at 9:30 a.m., according to Jason Burrough, pastor of the Bridge Church in Polson, which organizes the event. 

“The Day of Hope is Burrough’s baby,” said Brian Miskimins, Anderson Broadcasting’s on-air personality and advertising and marketing representative. He was manning the station’s stage during the event.

Burrough said he partnered with the Convoy of Hope out of Mississippi and received a semi of goods containing about 35,000 items to give away, including socks, snacks, water and other drinks, and food. The Day of Hope is well-attended, especially as prices for goods and services have continued to rise.

One popular tent was staffed by CSKT Tribal Education, which offered free Native print backpacks with school supplies and shoes. The staff said they were busy all during the event helping people sign up and get a ticket for the swag.

“People thought it was worth it to stand in line,” staffer Miranda Burland said, adding that 357 families stopped by the Tribal Education tent.

One little girl was very excited about her new backpack and school supplies as she’s “gonna be in kindergarten,” she said, with a gap-toothed grin. 

The Day of Hope began in 2019 “and it gets bigger and better every year,” Burrough said. 

He estimated 2,000 people attended the event on a sunny Saturday and “it looked like more people were more in need.” 

    The Tribal Education ladies take a rest after loading their truck following the Day of Hope crowd. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)