Sandpoint Eagles are deserving of kudos

I’d like to share a bit of Sandpoint history and acknowledge a terrific group that’s been a part of our community for a very long time. This is the Eagles Aerie 589.

In the late 1980s, it was my privilege to be a part of an effort to initiate hospice care for families in Bonner County. During that time, I did presentations to local churches, civic groups, and charitable organizations including the Eagles. I wanted to introduce the hospice philosophy of care, as people were not familiar with it at the time, and ask the local community for financial assistance.

Bonner Community Hospice was a non-medical all-volunteer group then and it was not possible to bill insurance. Our first fundraiser was a chili feed at Community Hall. We earned $200 and bought a file cabinet. Besides fundraising, there were sometimes donations from the groups I had visited.

Even small amounts of donated funds could buy simple things in order to enhance quality of life for those with a shortened life expectancy, and this was our mission. A wheelchair ramp, for example, could make a huge difference. Also, we needed money for other things such as printing volunteer training materials and brochures, books for a lending library, and office supplies.

Although the support that came from other groups was greatly appreciated, there was one organization that really stepped up to contribute to the success of our hospice. The Eagles found a way to donate $7500. This was the largest amount of money the local group had ever donated to anything, and it had taken considerable effort to get a grant from the national organization, but they made it happen. That gift reflected the generosity and caring that continues to be a primary focus of the Eagles organization and the local members. They are a wonderful caring group of people.

This year, our Eagles will host the Idaho state convention and they are currently working to prepare for this to happen on June 20-24. I want to acknowledge and commend them for all the good work they do and wish them the best as they host other Eagles members from throughout the state.

CONNIE WATSON

Sandpoint