The Joy of Giving

Now that the Christmas season has passed, we typically look ahead to our goals and resolutions for 2016. As we hear some of the heartwarming stories of the holiday season – stories of charity, love and spreading of God’s word – we can take that same Christmas spirit and make it last all year long. Just ask Doug Reoch of Bonners Ferry. He experiences the joy of giving each week.

Doug has driven a school bus for Boundary County School District for nearly a decade. He is the one who many entrust to take their children to and from school. It is a big responsibility, especially given the climate in our area, and it can be a thankless job, but not for Doug. He has a great relationship with the kids and makes it fun for them.

Each Thursday Doug has what he calls “Lucky Thursday.” He tapes a one-dollar bill to the bottom of one of the seats on the bus. All the seats are numbered, and those numbers are placed into a hat. Each Thursday he pulls the winning number out of the hat to see who is the lucky winner of the dollar bill that day.

According to Bill Irwin of Boundary County School District, Doug has been driving a bus since 2007, his route consisting of mostly Mount Hall Elementary School students. Prior to Christmas, the kids on Doug’s route had an unexpected surprise. Each one of them had a brand new one-dollar bill taped to his or her seat. It was a heartfelt gesture that thrilled all of the kids.

“I think maybe some of his kids think he’s the real Santa,” joked Irwin. Doug’s respect and love for the kids has surely made an impact on the students.

“I drove a route a year or so ago and asked one of the girls who her favorite driver was,” shared Irwin. “She looked at me and smiled and said (it was) Doug. Doug hadn’t driven that route for three years!”

That admiration the kids have for Doug was shown to him this past Christmas as his “kids” showered him with Christmas gifts of appreciation. It was an unexpected surprise, but very deserving according to Boundary County School District Superintendent Gary Pflueger.

“I love the saying, ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child.’ The students are taught by all of us: their parents, the teachers, paraprofessionals, coaches, bus drivers, custodian and even the superintendent,” said Pflueger. “Transportation to and from school is part of the educational day. The students need to maintain an environment of respect and responsibility on the bus so they can enter the school ready to perform. Driving the bus is not an easy task. The driver's priority is the safe passage on the roads. The bus is very noisy; it is hard to hear what is being said and done when the bus is in motion. Successful teaching occurs when we form a relationship with the kids. Apparently, Doug has a system that works. We thank him for that!”

The joy of giving to others is contagious. The generosity of youth was further demonstrated during the holiday season by the students at Bonners Ferry High School who went above and beyond to help raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, a 501(c)(3) organization formed to raise awareness and raise funds for the needs of severely injured service members. The money raised goes to providing unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of any service member who has incurred a physical or mental injury, illness or wound as a result of their service on or following September 11, 2001.

The students’ fundraising efforts were in conjunction with the annual Moose Madness competition against Sandpoint High School and is just one aspect of the competition. This year, the students raised over $4,000 to help make a difference in the lives of those who have served our country.

Whether it is a bus driver who gives away a one-dollar bill once a week or a business making a donation to a nonprofit, the act of giving not only benefits the recipient but the one who gives as well.

These are just a couple of stories of how people are making a difference in our community and beyond. Let’s keep it going not just at the holidays, but all year long.

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