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Drive results in more than 1,000 meals for homeless
1/4/2012 10:49:31 AM
An inaugural holiday drive to assist the efforts of a local group reaching out to the area's homeless raised enough money to fill more than 1,000 "blessed brown bags."
The Splash's Twelve Dollars of Christmas Drive collected donations during the month of December for Blessings Under the Bridge, a Liberty Lake-founded organization that passes out food, clothing, blankets and other necessities to Spokane-area homeless. Every week, volunteers with Blessings Under the Bridge fill paper sacks with fresh food and distribute them to people on the streets. Ten of these "blessed brown bags" can be filled by the organization for $12, so The Splash decided to challenge readers to help fill bags - and share brief "blessings" in The Splash during the process.
Splash readers donated more than $1,400 through the Twelve Dollars of Christmas Drive, or enough to fill about 1,170 "blessed brown bags" with fresh food.
"We would like to thank our wonderful community, Liberty Lake, for all the monetary donations to help us feed the homeless and the less fortunate of our area, as well as your blessings," Blessings Under the Bridge volunteer and Liberty Lake resident Julie Elkins posted on The Splash's Facebook page.
Splash Editor and Publisher Josh Johnson said he was thrilled by the way the community responded beyond the call for monetary donations, singling out a woman who dropped by hats she knitted for the cause as well as the city's outgoing mayor, Wendy Van Orman, who donated 25 bags of clothing.
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"It's always such an uplifting experience to witness this community invest in a worthwhile cause," Johnson said. "The need is truly overwhelming right now, and as Blessings Under the Bridge looks to expand its reach in 2012, I trust Liberty Lake will continue to support this inspirational organization."
For more on Blessings Under the Bridge, visit www.butb.net.