Community is on a mission to help others
In a remarkable display of unity and compassion, businesses across the community joined forces this holiday season to make a meaningful impact in the lives of their friends and neighbors.
It all began when Kelly Dionne, Business Development at Express Employment Professionals, visited Darrell Rickard, program manager at Community Action Partnership, to ask how busy they were.
“It is very difficult for a lot of people right now, and we anticipate that we will get a lot busier,” Rickard said in response.
In its inaugural year, the Thanks for Giving Food Drive, organized by Express Employment Professionals, collected an impressive amount of food to support families in need. Organizers said that, through the support of local companies and their employees, this initiative became a beacon of hope for many, ensuring that families could gather and share a holiday meal together.
In Post Falls, donations were received by 3rd Avenue Market, while Coeur d’Alene companies contributed to Community Action Partnership. Steven Magnuson, warehouse manager at 3rd Avenue Market, said that an impressive 807 pounds of “very good-looking stuff” was collected in Post Falls and extended his gratitude to Express and the participating companies. In Coeur d’Alene, an impressive amount of food was also donated to Community Action Partnership.
"Bringing businesses together to meet the needs of our community has been heart-warming," said Jessica Bauman, owner of Express Employment Professionals. "The response and generosity have been incredibly inspiring, and it shows what we can accomplish when we come together, even in a short period of time."
For the companies that participated, the benefits extended beyond helping others. Organizing a company-wide food drive fostered a sense of pride and unity among employees, giving them a chance to contribute to a shared cause.
“Our employees were excited to see the impact of helping the local food bank,” said Mary Lange, owner of Lightning Tool and Manufacturing. “Our goal for next year is to at least double the weight collected in the same three-week period.”
Any organizations that would like to get involved in next year’s food drive should reach out to Kelly Dionne at 208-667-5627 to join the special initiative. Both Dionne and Bauman said that, together, residents are making — and can continue to make — a difference in the community, bringing hope and joy to those who need it most.
Among the companies and organizations taking part were Selkirk Sport, Lightning Tool and Manufacturing, Sunshine Minting, Inc., Dollar Fulfillment, Bild Industries, North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, Harris and Bruno International, Community Action Partnership and 3rd Avenue Market.
If anyone needs a leg up this season, they are asked to contact Community Action Partnership at 208-664-5787 or 3rd Avenue Market at 208-773-0139.
Express is on the mission of helping as many people as possible find good jobs and helping as many clients as possible find good people. In addition to offering talent solutions, Express Employment Professionals offers a variety of training opportunities including self-guided courses for certification to organizational & leadership effectiveness training. To learn more please contact 208-667-5627.
