CAL announces 2018 community grant recipients
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER) Representatives from area nonprofits and organizations pose for a group photo at a grants presentation program held by the Community Assistance League. A record-setting amount was given out to the Bonner County groups.
SANDPOINT — Take gently used, top quality items. Mix with dedicated Community Assistance League volunteers. Repeat each day at the group’s resale shop Bizarre Bazaar.
That’s the recipe for a record amount of donations given to local community groups and nonprofits as well as scholarships to local youth.
Because the community supports them, grants chairperson Bobbie Franklin said at a recent presentation that CAL was able to give away a record-setting amount of $150,000 in the form of grants and scholarships. A total of $112,500 was given to 42 non-profit Bonner County organizations; the remainder will be given as scholarships later this month.
“CAL, together with these organizations, form a partnership dedicated to improving life in Bonner County,” Franklin told those gathered. “By awarding, the grants committee is saying, ‘We’re with you on this. We now understand the need. Let’s do this. Let’s take this project on.’ ”
While CAL members take pride in how hard they’ve worked to make it all happen, and while they deserve all of those honors, Franklin said the members all know the grants celebration is a way to honor the people and the organizations they are represent.
“They are the eyes and ears of the community,” she added. “They know where the need is. And they make us aware of where the need is.”
Before turning the program over to grants committee members to present the awards, Franklin encouraged those gathered to pay attention to the recipients’ words as they spoke about what the money they were receiving would go toward.
“Your hearts will break; and your hearts will burst with joy,”
Community Assistance League contributes the profits from its shop, Bizarre Bazaar, directly back into Bonner County via grants and scholarships. The shop thrives from the enthusiastic support of people who shop there and those that donate their gently used items. This allows CAL volunteers to contribute financially to many local area schools, organizations, and services that enhance the quality of life of many residents of Bonner County.
Donations, Haddad said, can be dropped off at Bizarre Bazaar, 502 Church St., Sandpoint.
Donations were presented to: Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, Lillybrooke Family Justice Center, Pend Oreille Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, Children’s Pirate Ship of Sandpoint, 2nd Harvest Mobile Food Distributions, Arts Alliance, Bonner County Homeless Task Force, Clark Fork-Hope Area Senior Services, Forrest M. Bird Charter School, Memorial Community Center, Priest River Lamanna High School, Friends of West Bonner Library, Idaho Hill Elementary School, Lake Pend Oreille High School, North Idaho High School Aerospace Program, Sandpoint High School, The Village Green Project, Bonner County Fair and Rodeo Association, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Bonner Soil & Water Conservation District, Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper, Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education, Festival at Sandpoint, Bonner County Historical Society and Museum, Musical for Life, Inc., Sandpoint Parks and Recreation, Bonner General Health Community Hospice, Sandpoint Soccer Association, Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association, Bonner Community Food Bank, Bonner County Justice Service, Bonner Partners in Care Clinic, Helping Hands Healing Arts, Kinderhaven, Priest Lake Food Bank, Priest River Ministries, Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc., and Sandpoint Lions Foundation.