Idaho
BYU-Idaho student gives back to home country by building a school – East Idaho News
REXBURG — Growing up in the West African country of Sierra Leone, Raymond Steven didn’t have access to the same luxuries he now sees American kids enjoying. In many ways, the Brigham Young University-Idaho student is worlds away from his homeland as he works to obtain an education in East Idaho.
Stevens says the people of Sierra Leone value education but lack the resources Americans benefit from. He aims to do his part to improve the lives of those in his home country by building a school through his nonprofit, The Ray Foundation.
“I come from a family of eight kids, and I’m the first person to come this far in life,” Steven says. As the recipient of a scholarship from the Hall Foundation that helped him get to BYU-Idaho, he’s now earning his degree in Public Policy and Administration. He hopes the degree will help him improve lives in his country.
“One of the reasons for our underdevelopment and corruption is that we don’t have good policies to fix these problems,” Steven says. “I’m doing it for the collective good to provide welfare, clean water, electricity, etc.”
He says he’s interested in learning public policy because he wants to experience “how decisions are made and see how we can work collectively together to solve our problems … That’s what BYU-Idaho is giving all of us. Graduates who go and make a difference.”
The Hall Foundation awards scholarships to students worldwide to improve their local areas once they’ve completed their education. According to their website, “The Brad and Andrea Hall Foundation started as a scholarship-based foundation that focused on helping individuals from around the world get an education so they could lift others upon returning to their home country.”
Steven is taking that mandate seriously, and he’s not waiting until he completes his education. Through The Ray Foundation, Steven is already hard at work raising funds, making plans, and starting construction on a new school in his home country for others to benefit from.
“We want to start something instead of complaining about how horrible the conditions are and that kids can’t go to school,” he says. “It’s better we start somewhere.”
“Ray” is a play on Steven’s first name, Raymond, combined with its meaning as a source of light.
“For me, education is a light,” Steven says. “I believe every family, every community, every country needs that light.”
Steven says he has found wonderful support from the Rexburg community, including Mayor Jerry Merrill inviting him to share what he was doing with other locals, which generated some donations for his school-building project. He’s also got a board and volunteers comprised of local Rexburg residents and BYU-Idaho employees who have been a great support to what he’s doing, Steven says.
It’s already making a difference in Sierra Leone. Steven says with the funds they’ve raised so far, The Ray Foundation has been able to acquire land, hire workers, and start building the school. The foundation’s current fundraising goal is $30,000, which will go toward roofing and painting the building and providing clean water and restroom facilities.
The primary school will serve elementary-school-aged children from nine different communities. He says the area currently doesn’t have a sustainable facility where parents want to send their kids. He hopes the new school will provide a safe place to come and learn together.
Steven works closely with Tiffany Stanger of Rexburg, who serves as the secretary of The Ray Foundation. Stanger and Steven decided they wanted to give children in Sierra Leone a Christmas like they hadn’t experienced before.
“Growing up, I never got a Christmas gift,” Steven says. “I got my first Christmas gift here in America. This December, we hosted a party for these kids.”
Steven says they budgeted for 500 kids and got an even bigger turnout than expected.
“We brought Christmas to them,” he says. “We brought music, we brought food, we brought gifts.” He says it was all Stranger’s idea and was a special new experience for children in Sierra Leone.
“She has been the mother behind The Ray Foundation,” Steven says. “She has been the pillar holding all of this together.”
Steven says he’s already working with the government of Sierra Leone to prepare to hire teachers once the school is ready. He and his team are also working on getting grants to help complete the project.
He says people can contribute for free by spreading the word to those who might be interested in donating.
“Kindness is not expensive,” Steven says. “There are a lot of people who have needs. If someone is looking to give back, or if somebody knows someone who might be interested in what we are doing, businesses who want to give back to society, send them to our website … We are open to donations. A dollar will make a difference. It will buy a book for a kid.”
For more information, to get involved or to donate, visit the foundation’s website here.
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There’s something special and timeless about the Costco food court.
Having a Costco Card doesn’t just mean you unlock your grocery shopping there but you now get to go to the best food court known to man: The Costco Foodcourt.
Everyone loves their great prices and great options. Whether you’ve wanted to get a pizza to share with your family or one of their beloved giant hot dogs everyone’s got a good reason to go to the Costco Foodcourt.
Costco has been adding a lot of new menu items recently including fun ice cream flavors. Now they have yet again added something new to their menu.
Idaho Costcos
Where to find Costcos in Idaho.
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Costco has added a new menu item that everyone is already going crazy for. In a new viral Instagram reel an influencer revealed that Costco food courts around the country would be adding chicken strips to their menu! This feels like the perfect addition to the already extremely popular Costco food court and we can already see everyone going crazy over this new menu item.
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
As of right now it appears the chicken tenders are going to be 6.99 and include 5 chicken strips. They also seemingly have a new sauce that is going to be paired with these chicken strips and it looks delicious!
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
You’ll have to check out all of the local Idaho Costcos for when these hit stores because they just look delicious!
Look at those chicken tenders:
Costco Foodcourt’s New Item
It’s a Caramel Brownie Sundae!!!
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Change Complete at Costco’s Food Courts
Who would have thought that an age old debate would bring out such a reaction in Costco shoppers!?
Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
You’ve heard that our federal Constitution was made for a moral people. The line is attributed to the founding father and second President, John Adams. Notice he said “moral,” not “Christian.” One of my friends was a graduate of Liberty University, a prestigious Christian school. His mission in life was to evangelize, but he always cautioned his listeners that our founders spoke of a Creator, and not Jesus. Some of our early leaders were devout Christians. Many of them were also womanizers, drinkers, and gave religion no more than lip service. They were people who wanted to be left alone, and if they practiced faith, it was personal, and they didn’t believe it was the government’s role to dictate morality.
They Mock Good People of Other Faiths
I’m reminded of a story about the 2024 Republican National Convention. Harmeet Dhillon, a rising star in the party, spoke. She referenced her Sikh faith, and someone in the crowd felt compelled to shout “Jesus is Lord!” Now, maybe a majority believes that, but are you sure He wants you to taunt good and moral people? Or would God prefer a gentler approach? For instance, you could pray for conversions.
Where does the Great Commission instruct you to be rude to people of good moral character?
Idaho’s Glenneda Zuiderveld was an alternate delegate, and when a seatmate said the man was rude, the state senator dismissed the argument. “We’re all going to be judged,” she said. What’s a Senator’s purpose in politics?
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
A few days ago, a local church had a men-only event for candidates. A group of liberal women demonstrated outside. I don’t know why they can’t organize their own event instead, but apparently, they would rather be confrontational. They’ve accomplished nothing more than preening and making a claim that they’re more virtuous, but the church is within its rights to hold a men-only event. If you want a women’s only event, I’m not bothered. Let me add a caveat. Some of the men involved believe that it’s okay to berate members of the LDS Church as they enter the temple. I wouldn’t say screaming at someone that they’re going to hell is a sign of moral people. Again, if you think they’re wrong, then pray for them.
Some people wonder why they’re called Christian nationalists. Do we need to draw them some pictures?
Brad Little Through The Years
Gallery Credit: Kevin Miller
KUNA — A sister-duo is filling baskets with blankets, snacks and handwritten notes to spread some extra love to moms spending Mother’s Day in the hospital with their newborns.
The effort is led by “Helping Hands for NICU Moms,” a nonprofit co-founded by sisters Tiffany and Alyssa Higbee. The organization was born from Alyssa’s own experience spending months in the NICU with her firstborn.
Alyssa’s son was initially in the NICU for about two weeks, then was put back in for about 3.5 months. During that time, several holidays passed, making it especially hard as a first-time mom.
“There was people in companies who would bring us stuff and try and cheer up your day, and it really helped, and so when my son was about 6 months old, we decided that it would be best to try and help moms in the NICU somehow,” Alyssa Higbee said.
That inspiration led the sisters to create Mother’s Day gift baskets filled with items to bring comfort and encouragement to moms facing the same journey.
WATCH: Learn more about “Helping Hands for NICU Moms”
Local non-profit fills Mother’s Day baskets for NICU moms across Idaho
The sisters have a 12-year age gap. Tiffany was fresh out of high school when they started the nonprofit in 2023, which meant she had more time to dedicate to the project. Alyssa noted that because of the age gap, they didn’t get to spend a lot of time together growing up, so the project has brought them closer.
“Hopefully, this can bring some hope that you can get out of it … that NICU period, that scary initial phase, it does get easier,” Alyssa Higbee said.
ALSO READ | Fragile beginnings to bright futures: NICU ‘Wall of Hope’ inspires families with stories of strength
Alyssa’s son, who was born in the NICU at St. Luke’s in Twin Falls, is now 3-years-old and healthy. Tiffany said watching her nephew go through the NICU was hard, but seeing him now — jumping, tackling her, and doing everything a little boy does — makes the work even more meaningful.
“It’s cool to see the difference because I know that some kids don’t make it to where he is when they’re in the NICU, and it’s just cool to see that he did,” Tiffany Higbee said.
This year’s baskets are packed with items donated by nearly 25 local companies — up from just 5 donors in the first year. The baskets include soaps from Wild Highland Soaps, claw clips, bibs, hair bows, chapsticks, socks, lotions, hand sanitizers, coloring books, colored pencils, snacks, minky blankets, and stuffed puppies from Scheels.
Gift cards and coupons are also included from Dutch Bros, Flying M Coffee, a pizza company, Wendy’s (free meal coupons for breakfast and lunch), Albertsons, and a $10 coupon to a baby store.
Tiffany started collecting donations for this year’s baskets as early as November of last year, spending a few hours every week for the past 6 to 8 months to prepare — reaching out to companies, picking up donations, and organizing everything.
The assembly process includes last-minute tasks like ironing vinyl onto bags, opening boxes, and putting together gift card envelopes before the full baskets are assembled and delivered.
“We start putting the bags together, making sure we have everything in there, and then we deliver them on Mother’s Day,” Alyssa Higbee said.
The baskets are delivered before noon on Mother’s Day to avoid missing moms who may be discharged after doctors do their rounds. Currently, the organization delivers to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in downtown Boise.
Tiffany said delivering the baskets is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.
“I love seeing the moms sometimes we get to watch them come out with their baskets, and they’ll be going through it, and they look really excited and happy,” Tiffany Higbee said.
“Seeing how happy they are or knowing how I cheered them up a little bit for their Mother’s Day because it’s a big holiday, it’s their first with that baby at least,” Tiffany Higbee said.
The first year, the project was funded mostly out of their own pockets. Three years later, as an official nonprofit, they said they no longer have to rely heavily on their own funds thanks to their new partnerships.
The organization accepts both monetary donations via Venmo and their website, as well as in-kind donations of physical items like soaps, claw clips, and other basket items — year-round.
The organization’s future goal is to expand to all the different NICUs in the area, and potentially the PICUs (Pediatric Intensive Care Units) as well, since that was also part of Alyssa’s experience.
To learn how you can donate or get involved with “Helping Hands for NICU Moms,” you can visit their website by clicking here.
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