Mark C. Ellis Memorial Fundraiser brings in the bucks

Readers of this blog may remember Chyrisa Quincy. After her son, Mark Ellis, 22, died in a car accident in 2006, she decided to battle her grief by organizing an annual fundraiser in his memory.

This year, that fundraiser took place in May at the Albertsons in Eagle. All kinds of local businesses and organizations donated prizes to be raffled, and Quincy manned the fundraiser the whole time, seated next to a big photograph of her son.

Well, Quincy recently called me to let me know that the fundraiser was a big success, raising $2,100 in cash, enough to support an entire summer fun program for kids at Boise Rescue Mission’s City Light shelter.

Because of the donation, the children will be able to visit Roaring Springs, take in a race at the Meridian Speedway and more.

“Lots of times, children who live in shelters don’t get to brag about what they did during their summer vacations,” Quincy told me. “Well, this year, they will.”

She wants to spread the word and let all of those who donated know where their money will go, and continue to spread the word about her son, too, and celebrate the kind of person he was.

“My son, Mark, was very active, he did everything. He gets to be there in spirit with the City Light kids this summer.”

Thanks to the organizations that donated raffle items: Ballet Idaho, Boise Philharmonic, The Discovery Center, Opera Idaho, Wahzoo, Idaho Dance Theatre, Ice World, The Melting Pot, Trolley Tours, Meridian Speedway, Falcon Crest Golf Club, World Center for Birds of Prey, 7th Direction Spa, The Knitting Factory, Lunatic Fringe, Ruby Cortez from 93.1, Quail Ridge Golf Course, Boise Little Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Theater, Roaring Springs, Monkey Dooz, Channel 2 News, River Roots Rafting, Arbon, Diana Billbury, Snapple, Dreyers, and Albertsons.

Quincy said the public can expect an even bigger event next year, which will be the fundraiser’s fourth. Stay tuned!

Meridian food bank has a new building to help serve the hungry

Meridian Food Bank board members and volunteers recently opened the doors at their new location, and are inviting the public to an Open House there, 12:30-4 p.m., June 24, 15 E. Bower St. in Meridian.

Dean Oberst, a member of the Meridian Food Bank board, said the project was a community collaboration that happened with help from city officials, the Ada County Highway District, a team of volunteers, and donations of labor and materials from Corey Barton of CBH Homes.

“Idaho is the thirteenth hungriest state in the nation according to U.S.D.A. statistics, and it’s evidenced in our own clientele who come from not just Meridian but from surrounding counties just to get food on their tables—and we don’t turn anyone away,” said Oberst.

Meridian Food Bank was founded in response to the growing number of those unable to keep food on their tables. The Meridian Food Bank opened its doors in 1999 as the Valley Shepherd Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Center. In 2003, the Center became a non profit 501(c)(3) organization.

In 2005, Valley Shepherd partnered with the Church of the Holy Nativity which had started its own food bank in 2002. The two churches, along with the Optimist Club, united under one name: Meridian Food Bank.

Contact the food bank at 888-5102. Donations of money and food (proteins like peanut butter and tuna fish are always needed, along with volunteers!). For specific hours of operation and directions, please visit the website.