Volunteer-Run Kootenai Health Gift Shop Donates $185,122 to Kootenai Health Foundation

The volunteer-run Gift Shop at Kootenai Health presented a $185,122 check to the Kootenai Health Foundation to support patients, caregivers and critical hospital programs. The presentation took place Jan. 28, 2026, and continues a tradition that has generated more than $1.6 million for Kootenai Health over 43 years.

The Gift Shop is owned and operated by volunteers and sits on the ground floor of the main lobby at Kootenai Health’s Coeur d’Alene campus. Open daily, the shop sells flowers, cards, promotional items, novelties, candy and snacks and is described by the foundation as the strongest source of revenue for the volunteers. Proceeds are returned to the hospital through the foundation to purchase needed equipment, technology and other contributions that directly affect patient care across North Idaho and the Inland Northwest.

Proceeds have climbed notably in recent years, rising from $72,223 in 2022 to $153,267 in 2023, $160,478 in 2024 and $185,122 in 2025. The $185,122 figure reported for 2025 matches the amount presented at the January check ceremony. The foundation and hospital promoted the gift across their news channels and on social media, where staff thanked the volunteer-run shop for donating more than $185,000 this year.

“This check represents far more than a dollar amount,” said Cara Nielsen, Kootenai Health Foundation president. “It reflects decades of generosity, volunteerism and community spirit that continue to make a real difference for patients and families.”

Recent allocations from Gift Shop proceeds show how the money is used. Projects funded recently include $31,784 for NICU Angel Eyes cameras, $30,000 for telepsychiatry services, $12,000 for a physicians’ lounge remodel, $10,000 for the Kootenai Health Employee Family Fund, $3,750 for the Mammogram Screening Fund and $3,500 for the Patient Clothing Closet. Upcoming approved projects include $10,000 toward NICU NOVII fetal monitoring devices and $30,000 for an OB portable ultrasound.

Ongoing commitments supported by the Gift Shop include a $3,000 annual teen scholarship, Festival of Trees and golf tournament sponsorships, and $40,000 to $50,000 annually for the Cancer Patient Support Fund. The foundation also encourages community partnerships through a retail partner program and participation in the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program as additional ways to support hospital care.

A photo provided by Kootenai Health shows volunteers Rio Setty, Joyce Kollaja, Erin Fochs, Molly Liter, Elizabeth Brewer, Jameson Smith, Sydney Knight, Tom Singleton, Cara Nielsen and Helen Holmes presenting the check.

For Kootenai County residents, the Gift Shop’s contribution translates into concrete improvements at the hospital you and your neighbors use: cameras in the NICU, telehealth behavioral health support, upgraded diagnostic and OB equipment, and direct assistance for patients and families. The foundation says those efforts will continue as volunteers keep the shop stocked and local donors and businesses partner to boost funds for care.