POST FALLS — Knudtsen Chevrolet's Giving Tuesday event raised nearly $28,200 for the Post Falls Boys and Girls Club, Rathdrum Lions Club and the 3rd Avenue Marketplace. 

Sales Manager Bryan McConnaha said staff came up with the idea of letting customers pick a charity.

"We picked three local charities who all provide a big benefit to the community," McConnaha said.

For each new car sold in November, Knudtsen donated $300 to a local organization of their choice.

It added up fast. $8,700 was raised for the Lions Club, $9,600 went toward the 3rd Avenue Marketplace and $9,900 was distributed to the Boys and Girls Club. 

Mark Kuhnhausen, executive director of the Post Falls Boys and Girls Club, said the funding will go toward Friday sessions and programs like the day camps over winter break.

"A lot of that will go into scholarships. We’ve got a lot of needs this winter," Kuhnhausen said Tuesday while accepting a check for the agency. "Knudtsen Chevrolet has been so supportive of the Boys and Girls Club since it was just an idea."

The Lions Club has a foundation to feed children in the Lakeland Joint School District 272. 

Twice a month, 135 students across the nine schools receive additional food to tide them over on the weekends. The group within the Lions Club has about 30 volunteers who do the packing monthly and eight volunteers who deliver to the schools.  

The 3rd Avenue Marketplace provides food assistance, nutrition education and access to services for residents facing food insecurity.

Knudtsen Executive Manager Lauren Shaw said this year's Giving Tuesday was a different way for the dealership to engage community groups in need.

"We like to do a lot in the community, giving back throughout the year, but it was fun this past month to get the customers involved," Shaw said.