Holiday fundraiser rolls on
HMH Engineering stopped by to drop off their $1,500 donation to the Silver Valley Community Christmas Fund — as well as a goodie basket for the Shoshone News-Press staff. From left: Hagadone Media Director of Advertising Idaho Kari Packer, marketing consultants Sam and Heather O’Neill, HMH founders Matt Hall and Alex Hall, County Clerk Tamie Lewis-Eberhard and Nate McKinley with HMH.
Photo by CHANSE WATSON
Paul Robinson reflects on the history of the Dave Smith Radiothon, as well as George White during an interview with Josh McDonald.
Keri Alexander, Danny Kenyon, Molly Roberts and Sarah Murphy took a minute for a quick picture before Murphy guided them on a crash course in centerpiece design.
SNP reporter Molly Roberts sang Christmas carols with her parents Carol and Paul Roberts, as well as Anika Sundstrom during the Silver Valley Community Christmas Fundraiser.
News-Press reporter Molly Roberts and Silver Valley Meals on Wheels director Darrell Lemieux discuss the group's Festival of Trees fundraiser, which is going on now at the Shoshone County Courthouse and the Osburn Senior Center.
OSBURN — American author and military veteran John Holmes once said, “there is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
Even when times get tough, perhaps no community understands helping one another more than the people of the Silver Valley.
The Silver Valley Community Christmas Fund Tele/Video-Thon was on Wednesday and the numbers are trending positively once again.
Hosted by the Shoshone News-Press and co-sponsored by Dave Smith Chevrolet and local floral shop Sol and Serre, the day was full of generosity as locals and businesses alike made their way to the Osburn-based office to make their donations, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and even join in on the many activities that happened throughout the day.
The event opened with Shoshone County Commissioners John Hansen and Jay Huber, as well as County Clerk Tamie Lewis-Eberhard all making donations and challenging other local and county officials to match their contributions.
Each year the Silver Valley Community Christmas Fund goes to provide holiday meals for families in need during the season of giving — sadly, the need continues to grow each year and this year is no different.
According to Lewis-Eberhard, the money raised fed more than 1,000 people in Shoshone County last year.
Any of the money that isn’t spent on holiday meals is donated to the Silver Valley Meals on Wheels program.
As the day proceeded, special guests like Sarah Murphy (owner of Sol and Serre), Paul and Carol Roberts, Danny Kenyon and Keri Alexander all made their way to the building to be major parts of the day.
Murphy, in particular, has become a staple of the event — bringing in fresh flowers and then guiding a lucky few people in designing a holiday centerpiece.
This year, SNP reporter Molly Roberts joined Murphy, Alexander and Kenyon in designing the arrangements, which were then sold.
Molly also joined her parents in singing some holiday classics, all the while donations continued to roll in.
Formerly, the event was a fundraiser called the Dave Smith Memorial Radiothon, and it was hosted by KWAL 620 am radio — but a few years ago the radio station shut down following the accidental destruction of one of their towers.
Owner and operator Paul Robinson, along with his best friend and fellow broadcaster George White, had been instrumental in the creation of the fundraiser and made it an annual holiday tradition that turned into quite the event.
“Dave Smith had a great sense of humor and was really a wonderful guy,” Robinson said. “He loved the Valley, especially kids, and we thought this would be a great way to honor his memory — and if we could help needy families through this it would be an ideal situation. I’m so glad you guys have continued to do this, you’ve done a fantastic job.”
Alexander, the former publisher of the News-Press and one of the key elements of the SNP taking their reins from KWAL, was thrilled to stay involved even after her retirement.
Even in all of the joy the event brought to the people involved, hearts were heavy as we thought about George White, the aforementioned radioman, local legend, and easily in the top five of all human beings ever born.
“George loved this,” Robinson said. “He loved being around people, and people loved being around him. You know, I can’t say this about anyone else, but I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about George ever. He was that kind of guy.”
White passed away in late October of this year, but he will always be remembered as one of the great athletes in Kellogg High School history, perpetually smiling, ready to give a hug, and genuinely one of the best people you’d ever meet.
As the day waxed on, donations continued to flow, including the annual $5,000 from Dave Smith Chevrolet — which is always the biggest contribution of the day.
The fundraiser runs through the month of December, and as of press time on Thursday, $12,774 has been accounted for — just half of the News-Press goal of $25,000.
All photos and video segments from the fundraiser are available to be viewed on the Shoshone News-Press Facebook page.
If you would like to donate, please call the Shoshone News-Press with your pledge at 208-752-1120.
You can also mail in a donation to Dave Smith Christmas Fund, 700 Bank St., Wallace, ID 83873, Suite 700.
Also, tune into the North Idaho Now! podcast to hear Josh McDonald’s interview with Paul Robinson on Friday afternoon.
