Supplying students in Lincoln County

With donations met for this year, the Kootenai Kiwanis are still taking donations toward school supplies for Lincoln County students, which will be distributed on Monday, Aug. 20 at Asa Wood School in Libby during the annual Lincoln County Student Stand Down.

The Stand Down starts at 4 p.m., but those who show up early can also get access to winter gear through Coats for Kids at 3 p.m.

McLaury’s Apiaries will also be present to educate about their business as beekeepers, as will the Scouts and Girl Scouts, to educate about their program offerings.

In addition, face painters will be at the Stand Down for the children, and the organizers are trying to get other activities as well.

Bri Hilyer said that they would like to offer free haircuts for children as they return to school, but they are still trying to find hairdressers who are available that day.

The annual fundraiser for the Stand Down, in its third year, had an extra boost this year with the help of the Kootenai Kiwanis, said Trina Kerzman.

Kerzman said she started putting together a yard sale to raise money three years ago in order to fill a gap she saw in community programs. Unlike she had seen in Washington state, there were no existing resources helping families out with free school supplies.

“Libby doesn’t have a lot of funds for the kids,” she said.

Yet, she wasn’t content to just help out students around Libby, and made sure that any Lincoln County family that could make it to the annual Stand Down to pick up supplies could get what they need for their children.

“My kids are all gone and in another state,” Kerzman said. “I just wanted to do something for the community kids.”

In previous years, they have been able to supply around 250 students from around the county, she said.

Hilyer was recruited early by Kerzman to help her, and for the first two years, the two put in a lot of work, between gathering items to running the five-day yard sale, they said.

Coming into this year, Kerzman was looking for a partner organization to help with the yard sale and Stand Down. She found a perfect fit — both for the event and for herself — in the Kootenai Kiwanis, she said.

Kate Huntsberger — who chairs the Coats for Kids for the Kiwanis — approached Kerzman about joining Kiwanis and bringing her school supply effort under their umbrella, Kerzman said.

Pamela Peppenger, Kootenai Kiwanis president, said that the organization was enthusiastic helping out the children of Lincoln County in yet another way.

“Kiwanis, that’s what they do. They’re about the kids,” she said.

The fundraiser this year did about as well as the previous two years, Peppenger said. While they have raised enough to pay for this year’s Stand Down, fundraising is continuing, and funds will go toward next year’s effort.

Though Coats for Kids will be making items such as hats, coats, snow pants, gloves, mittens and boots available early this year at the August 20 Stand Down, the regular hours for the program will begin Tuesday, October 23, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Peppenger said. Winter gear is available for both children and adults every Monday and Tuesday after through January or February, depending on the weather.

Families are restricted to one set of each type of winter wear per child initially to ensure there is enough to go around, but can return later if needed, Peppenger said.

“You know kids are going to lose their mittens or their hats,” she said.

Though their efforts benefit anyone in Lincoln County, the Kootenai Kiwanis is currently without any members from outside the Libby area, Peppenger said. Yet, with only around fifteen members and a lack of younger volunteers, they are always interested in adding to their ranks from elsewhere, especially Troy.

More information about the Kootenai Kiwanis and all of their activities can be found at facebook.com/Kootenai-Kiwanis-Libby-MT-203480366331957 or by searching “Kootenai Kiwanis” on Facebook.

Those interested in joining or helping Kootenai Kiwanis can reach Peppenger at 406-334-1156.