Teacher Helps Students Find First-Class Look
Clothes are Barb McPoland’s passion. She collects them by the armload - fleeces, sweaters with delicately embroidered designs, vests bearing The Gap tag.
The more the better for this Dalton Gardens Elementary second-grade teacher, which could be a poor lesson for her students if she didn’t give away every stitch.
“Taking care of people is what the church is all about,” Barb says as her washing machine churns the dirt off another load of donated clothes.
Barb takes her collection to Coeur d’Alene’s First Presbyterian Church, where she heads the annual school clothing giveaway. This year’s big event is Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the church gym at 521 Lakeside Ave.
Church deacons began the giveaway about a dozen years ago. Barb read about it in a church flier in 1989, jumped in and ended up in charge.
“This is pretty much my summer,” she says. “But I have the time. It gives me something to do.”
It gives her plenty do to. She and about 14 other volunteers start collecting clothing in January. In June, they pick up leftover lost and found items from Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls schools - clothing gold mines.
“I had Post Falls Middle School and I was shocked,” church volunteer Kathy Hearn says. “My car was packed to the brim.”
Barb and her small army wash everything, even backpacks and especially athletic shoes.
Some items go through the wash several times to satisfy Barb’s cleanliness standard.
Last year, she burned out the motor on her washing machine and wouldn’t let the church help buy her a new one.
She knows her work is worth it the moment the doors open and people rush in to fill their 33-gallon bags. Shoppers are on their honor to take only what they need.
Barb’s tried to count the customers, but can’t. The two-hour giveaway is too chaotic.
“I’ve sat and watched teenage girls who wouldn’t have gotten anything nice find name-brand clothes, and their faces light up,” Barb says.
“A couple of us once helped a woman pick out two outfits for a job interview. It was really fun and I’ve never seen anyone so grateful.
“You’d be surprised how many people in Coeur d’Alene need things.”
The church is still accepting clothing donations. Call 667-0772 for details.
Favorite farms Remember Ellen Scriven and Paul Smith at Killarny Farm? The tour to their staggering organic operation filled up in a hurry, so organizers added tours to two organic farms in Sandpoint.
The first farm, run by Ira Greene and Suzanne Richardson, grows echinacea and St. John’s wort - all the rage in medicinal herbs right now. Ira and Suzanne will show how to cultivate, preserve and market the herbs.
The second tour goes to Diane Green’s farm. She’ll talk about organic farming, pest control and season extenders as well as growing for local restaurants.
The best part is the end - a dinner made from local organic produce. The Sandpoint tours happen Aug. 15 and cost $20 if you register by Monday, or $25 after. Call 882-1444 for details.
To be … or maybe not
“Hamlet” isn’t every actor’s dream, according to “I hate Hamlet,” the play that opens Aug. 7 at Coeur d’Alene’s Lake City Playhouse.
This is the one to see for a laugh. The lucky guy who seems to have everything really doesn’t. Instead, he’s haunted by John Barrymore’s ghost, among other problems.
The show runs weekends through Aug. 22, and starts at 8 p.m. except for Sundays when matinees begin at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $8 to $12. Call 667-1323 for reservations.