Local groups receive grant funding

Lutherhaven Ministries was recently announced as a recipient of a United Way of North Idaho 2022 Community Care Fund investment.

Lutherhaven was one of 23 recipients throughout Kootenai, Bonner and Shoshone counties to receive part of the nearly $300,000 that were available and they plan to put the $20,500 that they received toward their Summer Day Camp program.

Groups and organizations selected for funding go through a competitive vetting process that includes meeting certain criteria, including demonstrating strong leadership, fiscal accountability, collaboration, and a focus on the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population.

Keri Cederquist, a Community Impact director with United Way of North Idaho, explained why Lutherhaven Ministries was chosen and how they fit the criteria.

“Lutherhaven was selected because they provide a much-needed out-of-school time program to youth in the Silver Valley,” Cederquist said. “Safe, nurturing summer care is lacking and was identified as a major issue by school leadership in the Silver Valley. Lutherhaven partners with Wallace and Kellogg school districts to provide three weeks of fun, educational Summer Adventure camps which include meals and transportation for up to 150 third- through sixth-graders in the valley.”

Campers can enjoy friendship, food and fun, as activities include hands-on science and literacy initiatives, outdoor fun, creative crafts, games, Bible songs and stories, and free lunch and snacks.

While Lutherhaven Ministries may be the only Shoshone County-based organization to receive funding, there were two other organizations who received funds that will directly benefit Silver Valley residents.

ICARE For Children is a program under St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho and is an evidence-based parenting program to eliminate child abuse and neglect. The foundation is home visiting, where staff meet families regularly to help them navigate through challenges that all parents face.

“ICARE provides these services to families in Kootenai, Shoshone and Bonner counties,” Cederquist explained. “As a parent who has graduated from their Nurturing Families curriculum, I can attest that their work has helped me ‘know better to do better’ and made parenting more manageable, fun and gentle.”

The other organization, Safe Start, is a group that operates in all five northern counties.

Their program travels to communities throughout the region offering infant safe sleep training, cribs, car seats and car seat checks, and more to help infants and their families thrive.

The Community Care Fund is created through workplace campaign contributions, and managed by local volunteers serving on Community Impact Councils.

The United Way Community Care Fund has partnerships with 62 businesses and collects “payroll deductions” from participating employees. Participating businesses include U.S. Bank, Mountain West Bank, Avista Utilities and Hecla Mining Company.

United Way of North Idaho (UWNI) exists to improve lives in the surrounding community by providing resources to programs that advance the education, health, financial stability and basic needs of people in the five northern counties of Idaho.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.UnitedWayofNorthIdaho.org or call 280-667-8112.