Deer-vember fundraiser kicks off
Accurate Northwest staff present a donation to Community Action Partnership in 2023. The funds were raised during its annual Deervember donated $50 from every animal versus vehicle repair in November at the company.
(Photo by EMILY BONSANT)
November is the busiest month for animal versus vehicle accidents.
And if you are reading this in Boundary County, there is a good chance you have either hit a deer or another critter or have come close – maybe even today!
Last year, Accurate Northwest wanted to make the most of what can be a bad situation and also wanted to find a way to help neighbors in need.
They called it Deervember.
Accurate Northwest and a few partners chipped in $1,075 bucks to the Community Action Partnership.
That donation paid for three months of food boxes and came a just the right time, said Liz Bigsby, community engagement liaison with CAP.
Accurate Northwest doe-nated $50 for each animal strike repair they did in November and will do so again this year. Joining the autobody repair shop this year is Al Wilson Auto Repair near Three Mile and Formula Fabrication in Libby.
“We wanted to find another way to help our neighbors and friends and it is obvious CAP makes a difference in the lives of people who need it,” said Casey Gannon, Accurate Northwest’s General Manager. “We are looking forward to commandeering a few bucks, to raise some doe and to return some goodwill to an endeering community.”
Gannon also has a sense of humor to go along with his sense of community.
Last year, a local resident read about this fundraiser and brought money into the shop to be donated.
“We only have a relatively short amount of time on earth to make a difference,” said Accurate co-owner, Eric Donenfeld. “We are in the business of repairing and making things better for our customers, with this fundraiser we are joining together to help people in need most of whom we will never know.”
Eric and his brother, Cory, purchased Accurate Northwest a little more than a year ago and have been excited about the growth of the business as well as finding ways to help the community.
Accurate has been a sponsor of the Boundary County Fair, Kootenai River Days and has donated to several charitable auctions this past year. In September, Gannon and his team partnered with numerous local businesses and Woods Meats to make a sizable donation to the Senior Center.
“We wanted to make this fund drive an annual event and I am glad we are off and running on year two,” said Accurate Northwest and Northwest Autobody marketing manager, David Keyes. “We started a similar program in Bonner County and we have now raised almost $20,000 for the food bank.”
Accidents happen and Accurate Northwest wants to be there for you all year around but if the accident happens in November, here is an opportunity to give something back, said Accurate Northwest co-owner Cory Donenfeld.