Boundary County pulls together for Montana
Courtesy Photo Jaime Navarro’s trailer filling up, preparing to take the donations received from Boundary County, to Montana evacuees and firefighters.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Claire Presta, 5, helps her mother bring donations to the Naples General Store, that will go on to Montana.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Alan Stippich unloads donations from Zip Trip and the Eagles Club at the Naples General Store.
BONNERS FERRY — Living day to day in smoke-filled Boundary County is difficult at the moment. People cannot go about life in their usual way. In the last days of summer, when everyone is normally clamoring outside to soak in the sun’s warmth, people now spend their days inside their houses, places of work, or their vehicles. Those that are forced outside for their jobs or daily lives, are experiencing side effects, such as headaches, coughing, and sore throats.
Despite the miserable conditions, the people of this community realized that others have it far worse. Montana is burning, Washington is burning, Oregon is burning; and where there is out of control fires, there are people losing their homes, and there are firefighters risking their lives.
A chain of events often starts with one person. Jaime Navarro wanted to help. “He posted a picture on Facebook of his pickup and trailer and said ‘Is anybody doing anything, is anything organized?’” said Chad Kimball, co-owner of the Naples General Store with his wife Laura Kimball. “We would like to get involved. What can we do?”
“My wife got on the of the bandwagon,” said Kimball. “She got involved, then I got involved.”
Using the notoriety of the Naples General Store, and it’s resources, website and Facebook page, Chad and Laura Kimball set out to see if they could fill Navarro’s truck and trailer with supplies to take to evacuees and firefighters in Montana.
On Sept. 4, at 8:51 p.m., a post went up on the Naples General Store’s Facebook page explaining that Jaime Navarro had graciously offered his truck and trailer to take a load of supplies to Montana. “We will be accepting your donations at the store effective immediately until Thursday afternoon at 4,” the post said.
The post explained that items needed most were water, Gatorade, and non-perishable food items. “Thank you in advance for your generosity and compassion,” it read, ending with, “Please feel free to share this post.” By Friday evening the post had been shared 229 times.
The community did not disappoint. “The response has just been overwhelming,” said Kimball, as the deadline time of 4 p.m. on Thursday neared. “In three days we have gathered over 100 cases of water, 500 pounds of dog food, 20 cases of Gatorade. I’ve collected over $600 in cash donations. We have fresh fruit, toiletries, canned goods. We have personal hygiene products. You name it, it’s here.”
As the deadline approached, the donations continued to flow in. Alan and Breanna Stippich arrived with the bed of their truck filled with supplies. “Part of it came from Zip Trip and the other part was collected by Eagle members,” said Breanna Stippich. “I saw the post on Facebook. Everyone was sharing it, so I figured since I am part of the Eagles and that’s what we do- people helping people- I contacted a few members, just word of mouth. I told everyone to bring something in, if they could, and I’d pick it up and haul it out here for them.”
“Tia Avery got involved and she has been coordinating on that end of the county,” explained Kimball
Avery and her daughter felt a calling in their hearts to help. “We did this two years ago, well The Boundary County Oath Keepers did, for the fires here and in Montana with great success,” said Avery. “These men and women do us all a great service, sometimes at the expenses of their own lives.”
Avery also used social media to reach out to the community. She and her daughter contacted local businesses for donations and to arrange donation drop stations. “Here in town they can take physical donations to Super 1 Foods,” said Avery. “They have allowed us to put up a box between the doors, Monday through Friday.”
Donations can also be taken to Auburn Crest Hospice and 3 Mile Antiques. “This community is amazing,” Avery remarked enthusiastically. “They come to help every time I call them. We are blessed to live here.”
“We are learning as we go. Hoping that when we make this drop we will get some more information,” explained Kimball. “I’m learning that one thing they need are baby wipes and eye drops, so we are going to get some more of those, and whatever else is needed.”
Neither Kimball or Avery plan on slowing down. “As long as people bring it, we’ll keep taking it, and we’ll just keep sending it over,” said Kimball.
All those plans changed when a happy problem occurred on Sept. 11. “We want to thank everyone for their generosity!” the Naples General Store posted to their Facebook page. “You all have been successful at coming to the aid of neighbors in need. And those efforts, combined with those from folks across Idaho and Montana, have created a most wonderful problem... the donation centers are currently full!!”
The centers from Libby to Missoula currently have more donations than they can process. They have asked to hold the efforts for a later date.
When the need arises again, this community had proved they will be ready.