PRMAW seeking volunteers to help others

PRIEST RIVER — Priest River Ministries Advocates for Women is seeking volunteers at Lydia’s Place and Phoebe’s Place.

Located next to the food bank in Priest River, PRMAW officials said individuals who are accessing that facility on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and Thursdays 2-5 p.m. also come to Priest River Ministries Advocates for Women for personal items and clothing.

“If you are interested in helping your neighbors, we could use your assistance,” PRMAW officials said in a Facebook post. “Come by the office or give us a call. Maybe this can be your New Years pledge, serving those in need.”

In a recent newsletter recapping 2018, Priest River Ministries-Advocates for Women officials said the organization continues to be blessed by people who understand its mission — which includes serving survivors and their families of domestic and sexual violence, to offering hope to those families who are in crisis. The organization also works to meet the needs of those requiring free food, clothing, household and personal supplies, as well as provides free childcare/respite for children, counseling, and more, including emergency housing for those suffering the devastation of violence.

In 2018, Priest River Ministries Advocates for Women ran three offices, Sandpoint, Priest River and Spirit Lake, and two clothing and supply centers, with the dedication and commitment of faithful volunteers. Each month, about 150 people received needed services.

“That is over 1800 men, women and children,” PRMAW officials said in the newsletter. “Families escaping violence found peace in our shelter program.”

From two high school students were lived in shelter while they finished high school and graduated to a family of four flourish in PRMAW’s long-term shelter program, with the mother being approved to buy her own home.

Other highlights for the year included children playing at the respite center while parents attended appointments without the stress of caring for little ones, tutors teaching everything from budgeting to writing resumes, and counselors working with clients each week to gain confidence, purpose and worth.

The organization also oversaw a busy schedule of support groups, paralegals working with clients for court hearings and hundreds visiting PRMAW’s free clothing and supply centers for clothing, diapers, formula and supplies.

“As we continued to meet the needs of our rural communities in Sandpoint, Priest River and Spirit Lake, we were and are always aware that we could not do this without the blessings of God and the generosity of our amazing funders, companies, churches and individuals,” PRMAW officials said in the organization’s newsletter.

“You are all the reason that our neighbors are receiving the lift they need to escape their desperate circumstances and find hope for a better life in North Idaho.”