Carousel Fun Fair brings smiles, information

SANDPOINT — Community.

At the heart of it, that is what Saturday's Carousel Fun Fair was all about.

From Kaniksu Land Trust, the Sandpoint Senior Center, and Scotchman Peaks to Selkirks-Pend Oreille Transit Authority, Bonner Homeless Transitions and the Bonner Community Food Bank, the 33 nonprofits gathered in the main exhibit hall at the fairgrounds showed a diversity of services and ways to enrich the community.

"When you look around this room, the carousel brought the community here, and when you look around at all the different booths, every aspect of our community is being represented in this room right now," Dig Chrismer, rural engagement officer with Innovia Foundation, said. "Having all of us under one roof is spectacular, because there are organizations that you wouldn't know that are aware of each other that work together, and they all are collaborating and aware that we all serve different needs. My heart is so just so happy."

Chrismer said the origins of the fair date back to a monthly gathering of local nonprofit executive directors. At one of the meetings, Clay Hutchison of the Carousel of Smiles told fellow nonprofit leaders that the carousel was going to be renting out the fairgrounds and invited them to come join the fun.

They could, he told the groups, put up booths to both share information about what they do and, at the same time, give the public a chance to donate to their cause.

"Everyone was like, 'That is a great idea,'" said Chrismer, who volunteered to help, adding it gave her a way to showcase the amazing organizations found in Bonner County.

The fair allowed the nonprofits to tell their story, Chrismer said.

"A lot of people in our community know that there's a lot of nonprofits, but I don't think they really understand what a lot of the nonprofits are doing. I don't think they really understand the work that's being done by this community."

Equally as important, it allows the community to meet the people behind organizations — their child may go to school with the child of someone who works at a local nonprofit, or they may be a familiar face on their favorite run on Schweitzer.

"It really (puts a face) on those relationships to know who these organizations are and what they're doing," Chrismer said. "And it's thanks to the carousel. I mean, we couldn't; this is a draw. We couldn't have done it without that."

Chrismer said the fun fair attracted a diverse range of nonprofits, among them Dogsmile Adventures, a therapeutic sailing program; 7B Care Clinic; Idaho Trails Association; Master Naturalists; and Sandpoint Waldorf School.

"It's just a phenomenal mix of our community," she said. "It's fantastic. It's just fantastic."

Chrismer said she hopes the fair helps the community realize just how much the nonprofits do and how much they add to the community. Many interact with multiple nonprofits in the course of their day or week without even realizing it.

"They do all these things that we just take for granted, and we need to be aware of that," Chrismer said.

Nonprofits step in and help where the government often can't go. The void they fill creates a better quality of life for everyone, she added.

"Imagine they were gone. What would it look like to live here?" Chrismer said. "It would not be this special, amazing place that we call home. Sandpoint needs its nonprofit community. Living here and giving back to all these organizations continues to help us keep this quality of life that we all love."

Chrismer credits Carousel of Smiles founders Clay and Reno Hutchison and their vision for the carousel to be a revolving display of community — both literally and physically — connecting everyone to each other.

"As people are walking around, not just seeing this beautiful, amazing carousel that was put together by the most eclectic group of volunteers ever, they're getting to meet the other eclectic, wonderful groups in our community that support each other, and that's what gives me hope."

For Better Together Animal Alliance, taking part in the nonprofit fun fair was an easy year, Paige McGown, development director, said.

"We thought this was the perfect opportunity to get out in our community and tell people what we do while offering free vaccinations and microchip implants," she said.

By the end of the fun fair, Better Together helped about 200 dogs and cats with the assistance of VCA North Idaho Veterinary Clinic.

While the clinic started at 1 a.m., people started lining up by 8:30 a.m. with their pets. By 9:30, 85 pets had already been registered for vaccinations and microchips, McGowan said.

"Because everything is free, it's super accessible for people right now," McGowan said. "It's very difficult to get into a veterinarian, and the costs can be a little bit tricky for people, especially right now with inflation and the economy."

Helping several hundred people at a vaccination event is not uncommon, the BTAA development director said. It is a sign of how much people care about their animals and prioritize their health, but for one reason or another, that care is not accessible.

Rebekah Little, Bonner Homeless Transitions executive director, and Debbie Love, executive director of the Bonner Community Food Bank, were also among the almost three dozen nonprofits ringing the Carousel of Smiles. Being a part of the program allowed them to talk about their programs and both help those hesitant to reach out but also educate the community about the critical needs they help address on a daily basis.

Having almost three dozen of the region's nonprofits under one roof, sharing information on their missions, and spreading the word about their services is invaluable, local representatives said. It also spreads the word to those who might need their services or not realize the wide breadth of services offered by the organizations.

"I think a lot of people really underestimate the power of the nonprofit sector and the gaps that we fill in the community and around the country," McGowan said. "Having everyone be here together is wonderful because people can learn about the resources that are in their community that exist to help them."

There are times when someone needs help but doesn't realize a local nonprofit exists — and that they can help them. Many also don't know how valuable their donations to nonprofits can be, with every dollar stretched to the maximum, with, in BTAA's case, 87% of donations going directly into the animal alliance's services and programs.

"I think a lot of people feel like they can't give a lot, so many don't give at all, but it's the opposite," McGowan said. "Every penny really counts, and it serves our community."

    Ainzley and Luna Ahner came out to the Carouse Fun Fair to catch a glimpse of the 1920 Allan Herschell 36 pony carousel at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. The Golden Age carousel served as a centerpiece attraction for the event as hundreds of people attended the event to see the carousel and learn about local nonprofits.
  

    Area residents take part in a Better Together Animal Alliance vaccination and microchipping event at the Carousel Fun Fair. The animal alliance was one of almost three dozen nonprofits which took part in the Saturday event.