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District 4 employees give and give again

The troops at District 4 gathered for their annual Christmas potluck and raffle in mid-December. With dreams of raffle prizes in their heads and growling stomachs, they anxiously stood in the chow line waiting to devour a variety of potluck dishes.

While they ate, it was one eye on the plate and one eye on the pile of raffle prizes at the front of the room. Anxieties were running high with money burning holes through most pockets.

Although thoughts of winning a rafting trip for 12 down the Snake River or the Craftsman 5 tool combo were at the forefront of their heads, their hearts were never far from the reason District 4 employees assemble every year.

You see, in this district there are no hearts that are two sizes too small. Sure, they join together for the fun and to celebrate the season, but what really brings the team together every December is the generation of funds through s raffle that benefits to two local charities.

Along with full plates and fun times comes the satisfaction of giving to those in need… helping young parents that can’t afford new shoes for tiny feet, helping to pay for medical expenses that would otherwise go untreated because of inadequate family resources and helping to put a mistreated child in a safer and better environment.

In 2006, the district raised $1,900 to be shared evenly by the South Central Community Action Agency Partnership and the Ike Kistler Safe House for Kids. Program directors from both organizations were part of the District 4 festivities and spoke about their causes and how the money raised would be put to good use.

The district also held a teddy bear drive for the Idaho State Police and a canned good drive that provided food for the local senior citizens center’s food baskets.

The district’s tradition of Christmas fundraising and giving reached its 16th year in 2006 and to date has raised and dispersed more than $25,000 to charities throughout South-Central Idaho.

Photo caption: (left to right) South Central Community Action Agency Partnership (SCCAP) Program Director Leanne Trappen gratefully accepts a check from Amy Lierman, District 4 Public Affairs Specialist, SCCAP Executive Director Ken Robinette is also present. The $950 check was designated to help cover emergency medical and dental bills for people who otherwise would go untreated.