BY KAREN BOSSICK

Candice Stark can’t help but notice the bumper-to-bumper traffic that crawls up Highway 75 to Ketchum and Sun Valley in the morning and returns in the evening to Shoshone and other towns in neighboring Lincoln County.

She did a little research and learned that more than 70 percent of those who live in Lincoln County  commute to either the Wood River Valley or Twin Falls. And more than half of those fall into the ALICE threshold—that is, they’re Asset Limited and Income Constrained but Employed.

In other words, she says, they’re working but unable to afford the basic necessities of housing, child care, food, transportation technology and health care.

In response Stark, who lives near Ketchum, founded The Shoshone Project a couple years ago. The Shoshone Project instigated a food, clothing and Christmas drive for the people of Shoshone. It encouraged Wood River Valley residents to drop off non-perishable food for Shoshone’s Hope for the Hungry Community Food Pantry on their way back from their shopping and doctor’s trips to Twin Falls.

It solicited donations to cover the costs of repairs after the food pantry’s electrical panel and air conditioner malfunctioned. And this past summer the project organized volunteers to help paint the Lincoln County Youth Center in Richfield, which offers the only semblance of day care for Lincoln County.

They painted the kitchen, two bathrooms ad music room and two big walls, and they put up new coat hooks for the kids.

“We got to hear from some of the staff and learn more about the amazing work they are doing. Visiting the Youth Center really creates a feeling of connection!” said Stark.

Now, with winter and Christmas approaching, volunteers with the Shoshone Project are seeking Wood River Valley’s help once again.

Last year volunteers provided more than a hundred food boxes for Lincoln County families and plenty of warm clothing. This year they’d like to provide food boxes, homemade cookies included, for 140 families, along with more warm coats, sweaters, mittens and socks.

“We’d also like to provide Santa and presents in keeping with the spirit of the holidays,” said Stark.

People can help with donations. Any amount if welcome, but $125 will purchase ample food for a food box for a family of four. The Shoshone Project will also accept gift cards, preferably in $25 increments from Target, Albertson’s or Farmhouse Grocery Store in Shoshone.

Checks and gift cars can be made to the Shoshone Project and mailed to Shoshone Project, Box 5291, Ketchum, ID 83340. Address venmo cash contributions to @ShoshoneProject.

To bake a dozen or more homemade cookies, sign up at https://www.justserve.org/projects/98aff8b5-c82c-4bdd-a3cc-b4efcbc90fb5/make-1-dozen-cookies-for-the-shoshone-project?shiftId=fba67d85-5af9-442a-88da-e4791df289e5. They should be packaged in an airtight plastic container. Cookies are due Dec. 14 and can be dropped off anytime at 3821 Woodside Blvd. In Hailey or on Dec. 15 at the Shoshone 4-H building.

You can also call Heather at 503-516-9178 to have your cookies picked up.

Clothing can be dropped off in the bright orange containers in Ketchum outside Atkinsons, Starbucks, Gather Yoga, The Mill, Mane Muse, Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church and in Sun Valley at the Sun Valley Community School. For pickup, call Heather at 503-516-9178 or Candice at 650-773-0124.

The deadline for donations is Dec. 13. Volunteers with the Shoshone Project hope to distribute food boxes and clothing on Sunday, Dec. 17.

“We hope that people will make their donations as early as possible to help us know how much food we can purchase,” Stark added.

SHARE THE SPIRIT

The Shoshone Project will be the beneficiary of Silver Creek outfitters’ Share the Spirit on Friday, Nov. 24, otherwise known as Black Friday.

Fifteen percent of sales on that day will be donated to the project.