North Idaho nonprofits earn thousands in grant awards

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

The Idaho Community Foundation’s Northern Region Grant Panel recently announced that Bonner and Boundary county nonprofits will receive almost $50,000 in grants. 

The awards are a solid chunk  of the $226,000 the organization is spreading across Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone counties.

In Bonner County, the Arts Alliance will receive $3,000 to renovate Creations’ discovery museum and art studio. Bonner Community Food Center, Inc. will receive $3,500 to purchase non-perishable food. Bonner County Homeless Task Force will receive $3,000 for a Trestle Creek laundry facility. Eureka Institute will receive $5,000 to work with at-risk youth to build a bus shelter. Junior Achievement of Washington will receive $1,000 for the Junior Achievement financial literacy program at Sandpoint Middle School and Sandpoint High School. Kootenai Elementary School will receive $3,000 for library books. Lake Pend Oreille School District will receive $2,880 for kindergarten reading materials and teacher professional development. North Idaho High School Aerospace Program will receive $3,684 to buy books, software, equipment and tools for unmanned aerial systems study. Priest River Ministries will receive $4,000 to assist families affected by violence. Sandpoint Area Seniors will receive $2,500 to feed seniors. Sandpoint Youth Center will receive $2,500 to assist local teens. Southside Elementary School will receive $2,400 to provide morning tutoring to students. And West Bonner County School District will receive $3,000 to purchase books and provide them for free to kindergarten- through sixth-grade students at Idaho Hill Elementary School.

In Boundary County, the local 4-H will receive $2,500 to provide curriculum, art supplies, craft materials, educational games and healthy snacks. Gardeners for Regional Organic Wellbeing will receive $2,500 to provide a garden space to those who need it and to increase production of organic produce for the food bank and other community groups. And Trinity Lutheran Church will receive $3,500 to provide school-age children in need with supplemental food on weekends.