Dave Smith Christmas Fundraiser won't be derailed by COVID

WALLACE — COVID-19 has taken a lot of things from folks this year, but it hasn’t robbed Silver Valley residents of their charitable spirit and generosity.

In the last two years that the Shoshone News-Press has hosted the event, the Dave Smith Memorial Christmas Fundraiser has transitioned from a radio/telethon into a more social media based fundraiser. Because of the pandemic though, organizer and Shoshone County Clerk Tamie Lewis-Eberhard had to adapt on the fly this year and temporarily change up the format to ensure that the fundraiser wasn’t a COVID casualty.

Instead of calling folks and hosting a day-long, walk-in style open house party at the News-Press, Eberhard is using the mail to round up donations.

“We had to take a different approach this year,” Eberhard said. “The need is greater this year and we’ve already done a lot and it’s paying off.”

Eberhard had already received $8,500 (as of Thursday) and is receiving new donations daily.

As always, the monies from the fundraiser provide holiday meals for needy families in Shoshone County. Once all those families are covered, the remaining funds go to Silver Valley Meals on Wheels.

“Donations received through this event allow us to provide gift certificates to families in need and allow them to purchase holiday dinner items at local grocery stores,” Eberhard said. “The amount of the gift certificate depends on the number of family members in the household."

Last year alone, the telethon was responsible for providing meals to more than 1,130 people using these gift certificates. It also donated $8,000 to the Senior Meals on Wheels program, who has also had to change up the way they do things, due to the pandemic.

Eberhard mailed and emailed hundreds of previous donors, as well as distributed fliers, throughout Shoshone County in hopes of reaching her $20,000 goal.

“Our community always comes together and does what they need to do to support one another,” she said. “And like I said, this year with everything going on, the need is really there.”

Donations can be mailed to Eberhard at Dave Smith Christmas Fund, 700 Bank St., Ste. 120, Wallace, ID. 83873.

She can also be contacted by phone at 208-752-1264.