Sheriff's Relief Fund helps local families

Every year the Sheriff’s Relief Fund works hard to help families and children in the Sanders County community. That work continues this year by providing Christmas gifts and a turkey dinner to families in need.

Each year, Christmas trees are placed in local businesses throughout the county. On those trees you will find red and green heart ornaments hanging from the branches. Written on each heart is the age and gender of a child in need this Christmas. Red hearts represent girls ages 1-18 and green hearts boys ages 1-18. For each heart chosen, the Christmas gift should correspond to the age and gender of the child listed. You can choose to wrap the gifts, but volunteers ask that the heart is attached so the gift gets to the correct place.

Last year the Sheriff’s Relief Fund raised about $12,000. “That’s roughly about what we usually get every year, and I will spend around $10,000 on gifts, as well as doughnuts and coffee for the volunteers who help wrap and delivery the presents and food,” stated Theresa Milner, head coordinator for the Sheriff’s Relief Fund. “Last Christmas we had 445 kids total, and I try to give them at least two presents each. We usually have 150-225 families we hand out turkey dinners to. Even though the last couple of years it has been under the 200 mark,” Milner continued.

The trees will be distributed this week and will be picked up no later than December 19. The trees will be placed at the senior center in Dixon and Gambles in Hot Springs. In Plains you will find the trees at Mountain West Clothing, Gambles, Plains Drug and Mangy Moose. In Thompson Falls trees are at First Security Bank, Valley Bank, Empire Builders, Doug’s True Value and Mangy Moose. In Trout Creek, the Local Store will have a tree of hearts, and in Noxon, you will find a tree at the Mercantile.

Cash donations for the Sheriff's Relief Fund gifts and dinners can be taken to the Sanders County Sheriff's Office in Thompson Falls. First Security Bank in Plains and Thompson Falls will also be taking cash donations this year. From now until December 13, First Security Bank will be matching up to $1,000 in donations.

If you are in need of a little help this Christmas, or you know of a family in need, you can sign up to receive gifts and food baskets which will be delivered on December 23. Posters with sign-up forms will be at the following locations: Buck’s Grocery in Hot Springs, the senior center in Dixon, the Local Store in Trout Creek, Harvest Foods in Thompson Falls, City Hall in Plains and the Mercantile in Noxon.

On December 23, after Sheriff Tom Rummel goes to pick up the food for all the food baskets, volunteers will be busy assembling and delivering to the families in the county.

“I love volunteers, as many as I can get, especially on delivery day. That’s the big day," Milner said. "Avista has always been a big help with assembling and delivering. I won’t turn down any volunteers. I will take anyone I can get.”

If you are interested in volunteering, making a donation to help with the turkey dinner, or have any questions please contact Theresa Milner at the Sheriff’s Office, (406) 827-3584.