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The Bank plans to raise $225,000 and more than 10,000 items of warm winter wear to support more than 50 local homeless shelters and aid organizations throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho during the cold and wet winter months.
“We are proud to continue partnering with our neighbors to help those struggling with homelessness during the coldest months of the year,” said Hadley Robbins, president and CEO of Columbia Bank. “Our combined efforts will provide warmth and comfort for those in need this winter.”
Over 36,000 people in Washington, Oregon and Idaho experience homelessness, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Understanding the critical need firsthand in the Northwest, Columbia Bank responded with the creation of the Warm Hearts Winter Drive to provide support across the region during the most difficult months of the year.
Columbia Bank employees at all of its more than 150 branches, including Bonners Ferry, are actively engaged in securing cash donations and new warm clothing from clients and community members, and 100-percent of the clothing and funds collected during the Warm Hearts Winter Drive are donated directly backnto the shelters and relief organizations in the communities where the collections originated.
All donations that are made through the Bonners Ferry branch, 6750 Main Street, will go to Hope House, Moyie Springs.
Hope House has been operating out of our current location on the NW corner of Roosevelt and Division in Duplex A in Moyie Springs since 2011.
They offer free clothing, food, baby items and more, to residents of Boundary County who are in need, focusing on items people cannot buy with food stamps. There are no strings attached, but there are guidelines, as their goal is to help, anf not to support those who've fallen on hard times.
The Bonners Ferry branch of Columbia Bank has tags on their Christmas tree with items needed most at the Hope House, such as diapers, socks, toilet paper, dish soap, etc. People can stop by between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up tags and drop off items or cash donations from now through December 31. There is also a tree with tags at Dodge Peak Lodge, 5952 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, and at the brand new Selkirk Sweets in the same location!
Hope House is just one on the list of 58 benefiting organizations, which also includes the Portland Rescue Mission, Seattle Gospel Union Mission, Tacoma Rescue Mission, Eugene Mission and Bonner Homeless Transition in Sandpoint.
The Warm Hearts Winter Drive accepts cash donations in addition to new winter apparel and other items needed locally. Donations can be submitted online at WarmHeartsWinterDrive.com and both cash and new warm winter attire can be donated at every Columbia Bank branch across the Northwest.
For more information on the list of benefitting organizations in each county or to make a cash donation, please visit WarmHeartsWinterDrive.com. To learn more about Hope House, call (208) 267-5105 or visit the on Facebook.