Community comes together for day of giving

SANDPOINT — Local organizations are joining nearly 600 others across the state in raising funds through the largest single day of giving — Idaho Gives.

In its seventh year of Idaho Gives, the Idaho Nonprofit Center has set a goal of raising $1.7 million across the state on Thursday, though individual organizations set goals of their own. The Bonner Community Food Bank, for example, is hoping to raise $1,000 as the organization participates in the event for the third year in a row. Food bank executive director Debbie Love said the funds will help feed Bonner County families in the coming months, as Idaho Gives comes around at a critical time of year for the organization.

“It is a good time for us as we are coming into the summer months when donations are down,” she said. “(Idaho Gives) is a good way for the food bank to potentially get new donors as well.”

The Bonner Community Food Bank serves 120 families each month at the Priest River location, and 1,500 families through the Sandpoint location. The new location in Priest River at the Rivertown Mall has helped the food bank gain more visibility and exposure, Love said, as the number of people served has increased since the move.

While the food bank is primarily a food resource for low income families, disabled individuals, children and seniors, it may also provide additional services to those in need, depending on the circumstances surrounding the need and availability of those resources.

Another local organization that serves as a bridge to resources across Bonner and Boundary counties is participating in Idaho Gives for the first time this year. The Sandpoint Community Resource Center connects those in need to resources ranging from help with food, fuel or child care, to housing, mental health issues, substance abuse and more.

Linnis Jellinek, SCRC executive director, said their fundraising goal is $5,000 to embark on an outreach campaign.

“We are excited,” Jellinek said of participating in the event. “We need awareness outreach — we need to really reach the rural areas, because it is outside of the city of Sandpoint that we need to touch.”

More Bonner County groups participating in Idaho gives include Bonner Homeless Transitions (Bonner County Homeless Task Force, Inc.), Sandpoint Youth Center, Arts Alliance (dba Creations for Sandpoint), Panida Theater, The Carousel of Smiles, Memorial Community Center, Panhandle Animal Shelter/Home to Home, American Heritage Wildlife Foundation, Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education (SOLE), Inc, Community Cancer Services, and Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. In Boundary County, participating groups include GROW (Gardeners For Regional Organic Well Being), and The Pearl Theater.

Last year, Bonner and Boundary County nonprofits raised over $25,000 of the $1.5 million raised through Idaho Gives statewide. Since its inception, Idaho Gives has raised over $5 million for charitable causes in every corner of the Gem State.

Idaho Gives starts at 11 p.m. tonight and will close at 11 p.m. on Thursday. Donations can be made online at idahogives.org or by calling 1-877-ID-GIVES.

“What I love about Idaho Gives is in Bonner County, the organizations that are part of it get together and meet at Evans Brothers,” Love said, adding they will be at Idaho Pour Authority in the evening as well.

Such events will be happening throughout the state on Thursday. Locally, the Evans Brothers event will take place from 8-10 a.m., and the IPA event from 5-8 p.m.

Donors, supporters and nonprofits are encouraged to post photos and talk about their favorite causes across social media using the hashtag #IdahoGives.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.