Kindergarten students from Chester Elementary made a trip to the Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Spokane Valley Mall this morning. Instead of taking their new fluffy friends home, they donated them to children staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

The excursion was made possible by an Eastern Washington Community Outreach Program Grant. The COP Grants are given for up to $1,500 to cover the cost of service projects that build relationships between students, schools and the community at large. This is the fourth time that kindergarten teacher Denise Kennedy has applied for and been given a COP Grant.

Furniture Row will host Military Appreciation Nights in each of its 330 stores nationwide on May 17th, the eve of Armed Forces Day. Established in 1949, Armed Forces Day provides a single holiday for all Americans to express their gratitude to those who have given so much in patriotic service to our country.

Military Appreciation Nights will be held from 3pm to 9pm on Friday, May 17th inside all the specialty stores of Furniture Row­; Denver Mattress, Sofa Mart, Oak Express, and Bedroom Expressions. All Active Duty, Former, and Retired Military, as well as Reservist and Members of the National Guard, are invited to come with their families for an evening of celebration and recognition.

To help spread the word, Furniture Row will be taking to the tracks at both Talladega and Darlington raceways with a new commemorative Military Appreciation Night design on the famous Furniture Row Racing #78 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet, driven by Kurt Busch.

Gonzaga University has partnered with PODS of Spokane to give new life to unwanted items as students leave campus for the summer. 

ZAGiving encourages students to donated their unwanted apartment and dorm room items rather than throwing them out. PODS has provided containers for the students to drop off their clothing, household good and furniture around campus and the Logan neighborhood. 

Everything in the PODS will be donated to Catholic Charities of Spokane to help low-income and homeless families in the area.

"We make charitable work a priority at PODS and ZAGiving is a great way for college students to help give back," said David Henry, territory manager for PODS of Spokane. "We are honored to be providing our moving and storage services to help collect items for our community members who are less fortunate."

The PODS will be available May 8th-14th, just in time for graduation. Students who want to drop off goods should bag them up and and bring them to ZAGiving drop off spots marked with banners around campus.