COEUR d’ALENE — Crosstown rivals came together as friends once again this week in support of local nonprofits. 

Students from Coeur d’Alene and Lake City high schools met in the LCHS commons Friday afternoon to gather blankets, winter clothes, hygiene products and food they collected during their 2025 “All for Awl” campaign. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic halted the traditional Fight for the Fish spirit competition in 2020 and 2021, All for Awl emerged as a new tradition, built on collaboration and community. 

“It’s important for us to show that, through all the rivalry, we can serve the community together,” said Scout Brown, a senior at Lake City High School. 

The “Awl” in the campaign’s name was first conceived of as an acronym for “All With Love,” but now harkens back to “heart of an awl,” the French phrase from which Coeur d’Alene takes its name. 

Each year, on the heels of the holiday season and the hotly contested spirit competition, students from both high schools work with local businesses and organizations to conduct resource drives for community members in need. 

This year, the students delivered food to the North Idaho College food pantry, which supports NIC students and employees facing food insecurity. They distributed winter clothes to the Union Gospel Mission Women’s Recovery Center in Coeur d’Alene and blankets to St. Vincent de Paul. 

Hygiene products were donated to Family Promise of North Idaho, a nonprofit that helps low-income and homeless families achieve lasting independence by providing safe shelter, meals and support services. 

“It’s a great way for us to get into the community,” said Lake City senior Tessa Petersen.  

Students said they were glad to see the heaps of items that would soon go to vulnerable community members. 

“It’s really cool to see that we can have an impact on our community,” said Lyla Bailey, a senior at Coeur d’Alene High School. 

She said the CHS alum community is passionate about Fight for the Fish and has channeled some of that passion into helping support All for Awl. 

“It’s cool for them that we get to continue this tradition,” she said. “Being able to do that hand in hand with a spirit competition and bring attention to these nonprofits is really cool.” 

Laura Tolzmann, the Student Council advisor at Lake City High School, said she was proud to see the students set aside their rivalry and work together. 

“It’s exciting,” she said. “It’s all about the community and what we can give back.”