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.

Right before you cross the T.J. Meenach bridge you'll hit mile four of the Bloomsday course. Doomsday Hill looms around the bend and you just might start to feel some pain in your feet and fatigue in your legs. Why not stop to reboot at the SNAP VIP booth?

SNAP will have a VIP photo booth set up just before the bridge so you and your friends and family can snap silly photos before huffing and puffing up the hill. You can also sip on coconut water to rehydrate you for the last half of the run. Pictures will print classic photo booth style and be ready to take home. SNAP will also provide a web link for you to check out and share your Bloomsday photos online. 

However, the booth is VIP for a reason. SNAP only has 500 of the reflective VIP bracelets available for purchase. So, not everyone will get to taste the high life on race day. The VIP bracelets will be available for purchase at the Trade Show at SNAP's booth (#304) and are only $5. First come, first serve, and you won't be able to buy them on race day.