CAP thanks community
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Community Action Partnership put on a barbecue, complete with games and goodies.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Liz Bigsby, Tina Brewer, Sue Williams, Ann George and Jan Jarrott (in the back) brought food and fun to the community on July 12 at the Community Action Partnership’s appreciation day event.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Community Education Specialist Natasha Carcas having “Watts of Fun” at the barbecue.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The cotton candy booth was a favorite for children of all ages.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Four year old Hudson and nine year old Michael Boyd with mother Mandy Boyd and Corey Richards, enjoying the food.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Natasha Carcas from Community Action Partnership out of Lewiston handed out gift bags and information.
BONNERS FERRY — There are people in need in our community. At the same time there are many people in our community who step up and help, whether it is a few boxes of cereal or a financial contribution, and for that, Community Engagement Liaison Liz Bigsby of Community Action Partnership is very grateful.
“Folks don’t realize how much they are needed,” said Bigsby, “and how much they can help ... just that little bit.”
On July 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Community Action Partnership held a Community Appreciation Day at the Georgia Mae Plaza in downtown Bonners Ferry, in the hopes to say thank you to the people and businesses that have aided them in supporting the people in the community who are in need of assistance.
Community Education Specialist Natasha Carcas, from Community Action Partnership out of Lewiston, was on hand, handing out bags of goodies and educational information. The bags, some donated by Avista, contained items to help people save energy in their homes.
Gary Pflueger was on his way to lunch when he noticed the event and was curious as to what was going on.
“I drove by and saw that little sign right over there. It said Community Barbecue,” said Pflueger. “I said I’m not passing up a free hotdog.”
“I got some Avista products,” he said, indicating to his bag. “I’ll have to go through it and see what I am doing right and wrong at the house, and save some energy.”
Carcas was pleased with the turnout. “It’s going pretty good,” she said. We have got a lot of people showing up. We are having fun and handing out a bunch of bags, giving out a lot of fun information for them.”
Along with the free bags, they also provided a free lunch consisting of grilled hotdogs, chips, and fresh cut watermelon. For dessert there were cookings, hot funnel cakes, and the popular cotton candy booth with a perpetual line of kids.
“I’m just waiting for the cotton candy,” said nine year old Michael Boyd, as he finished up his lunch.
They also provided games such as a bean bag toss and something that Carcas called a Chicken Fling. “You fling chickens in a box,” she said with a laugh.
For Bigsby, the day was extremely important. She wanted more than anything to say thank you to the community for helping support their neighbors through CAP.
“It is a huge thing for me,” said Bigsby. “We are so supported at the food bank. I can’t express how much Boundary County, how much our Bonners Ferry-ites, support us with the food bank. We could not do it without them.”
“To be able to say thank you — to shake a hand, to be able to see people face to face that are supporting what we are doing, and ultimately supporting their neighbors — is just huge for me,” said Bigsby. “It is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you.”
“The support we get carries through all year and I wish there was a bigger way to say thank you- but cotton candy and dogs is all I got!” she said with a laugh.
But cotton candy and dogs seemed to be plenty good enough for the people attending the event. In the dappled shade of the trees, people crunched on juicy watermelon slices and hotdogs while talking with one another. Children laughed and ran around the green grass with their giant balls of fresh spun sugar.
“This is what Bonners Ferry is about, picnicking and community, and having fun with each other,” said Bigsby. “It just has worked out wonderfully to be able to do this.”
For more information: www.cap4action.org