Salmon, Idaho--Saveway Market owner Jim Bills presented Wishing Well donations to Mary Wright, Executive Director of Camp Discovery Idaho and Angie Miller, Salmon EMT president on February 4.

During the presentation Bills explained the history of the Wishing Well project. “We wanted to reduce the amount of plastic bag litter so we started to sell the green reusable shopping bags and installed the Wishing Well,” said Bills.

“We hoped that when customers received the five cent rebate for reusing their own bags, they would donate their nickels to worthy organizations like yours. Plus, it’s good for the environment.”

Bills went on to say how generous the community has been. “We could not lift the container full of change. It was full of nickels, dimes and even a few gum wrappers, enough to fill a five gallon bucket,” he said.

A total of $1,156 was collected over about a five month period; each organization received $578.

The EMTs plan to use the donation to replace several pieces of outdated equipment. Camp Discovery Idaho will use their portion to fund Salmon River adventure programs this summer for teen and adult cancer survivors.