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SEEING POTENTIAL, NOT POVERTY
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We are thankful for your commitment to Kootenai County as we work together to promote the human flourishing of our neighbors. Here's a peak into what we've been up to:
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Christmas for All Year (CFA-Y) Referring Partner Networking Meeting
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Charity Reimagined facilitates a monthly networking meeting that is hosted by a different CFA-Y Referring Partner, at their location. They present to the group to talk about their services, what gaps they have for potential partnership, and how others could step into those gaps. The last 30 minutes is open networking time for people to chat, get to know each other, and connect resources.
Last month, there were representatives from 10 organizations present
while Jules Cosby with The Salvation Army Kroc Center
presented to the group about the Kroc's many services which included mental health resources. She discussed the challenges families face to afford the cost of mental health support which is a great need right now. The Kroc's financials resources cannot keep up with the demand.
Pam Houser from
Heritage Health
, whom
Jules
had not
previously
met, spoke up to let Jules know that Heritage Health has a mental health support scholarship fund dedicated to helping with these costs!
This is a perfect example of the resource connections that are being made through these network meetings.
Lastly, Jules talked briefly about Charity Tracker
's many benefits to her work. She is a department of one, and daily she receives a high volume of calls and referral requests for help. She shared how helpful it is to look on Charity Tracker to see if the people reaching out to her are working with other organizations she is familiar with and trusts. Tracker helps her to efficiently assist the person requesting help without duplicating services they are already receiving from another organization
.
For example, when someone requests utility assistance, Jules goes through a budgeting exercise with them so that they have a plan to be able to pay their utility bills in the future. With Tracker, if she sees that the person coming to her is already working on budgeting through Love INC
, she will skip this step. This saves her time and helps streamline the process to meet the neighbor's needs. She says she feels like a department of several thanks to the information and insights Tracker provides.
We are thrilled to facilitate and watch these connections form between the amazing organizations in our community: maximizing each other's strengths to most effectively wrap resources around those in need.
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Rides For A Reason - Car Donation!
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Over the past couple months, we've shared with you how three key elements to the RIDES program are now up and running: low interest car loans and budget training through Mountain West Bank
,
and Car Repair 101 taught by Lake City Auto
.
With these in place, WE ARE READY TO RECEIVE CAR DONATIONS!
Meet Joan Woodard and her sweet Jemma standing next to Joan's beloved car, Violet. Joan just donated Violet to Rides for a Reason. The car is beautiful, and it is a true gift to RIDES.
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Joan learned about Rides for a Reason last year when Maggie spoke at a Women's Gift Alliance event. She knew that when she was ready to get a new car, she wanted to donate Violet to Rides. A month ago, Joan called to let us know that she had just purchased a new car! When it arrived, we picked up Violet and dropped her off at Lake City Auto where she is receiving a few small repairs before we "sell" her, affordably, to a deserving family in need of reliable transportation.
Joan shared the "why" for her donation:
“I like to support programs and activities that aren't just providing a temporary fix to an immediate issue but trying to build resiliency, hope and motivation for achievement in whatever form that takes. I also like to see education coupled with opportunity, so Rides mission fits for me. The idea that my beloved "Violet", who had been a reliable pal for adventures and travel over the last twelve years can have a second life helping someone to achieve their life needs and goals makes my heart happy. That happiness for me was worth far more than the trade-in or sale value of Violet...and seems like a far better tribute for what she was to me as well.”
We are grateful for Joan's trust and support. Violet is going to bring hope and dignity to a hard-working family here in Kootenai County
.
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After a lifetime of battling with mental health challenges, Jason finally felt he had hit a stride of consistency: he was faithfully riding his bike to his medical and therapy appointments and was maintaining his medication protocol. Jason had taken ownership of the challenges he faced and discovered a rhythm of life that was leading him toward stability.
A key part of this success was the independence gained through owning a bike that he had worked hard to purchase. This bike gave him freedom: a means of getting to appointments and social activities.
Recently, Jason was hit by a car, and this key piece of his stability, his bike, was ruined and unable to be replaced due to a lack of insurance by the driver who hit him.
After losing his only consistent mode of transportation, Jason was finding it difficult to maintain the structure he had finally found for himself.
He and his therapist decided to submit a CFA-Y application to purchase a new bike. Through a partnership with Two Wheeler Dealer
, Jason went to the shop and met with the owner who helped him pick out a bike that would suit his needs and goals. One of his dreams is to join a mountain bike group.
Jason contributed 10% of the cost toward his new bike, a new helmet, and a good quality lock to keep him and his investment safe!
We were thrilled to step in with CFA-Y support to help Jason overcome this unexpected setback so that he can continue his journey of healing.
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REFERRING PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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Heritage Health’s Street Medicine Community Outreach
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at locating, triaging, and transporting our neighbors in crisis to their clinic. Their case management services are available to all, free of charge. Case management is crucial in helping these neighbors develop a plan to secure housing, navigate referrals, and secure the resources necessary for stability. Equally important is how SMCO works in collaboration with community partners to find sustainable solutions that support our neighbors in need.
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Referring Partners are the boots on the ground, our community's Unsung Heroes, serving the poor who refer their clients to Charity Reimagined for specific assistance tailored to our work.
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BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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Since 1990, Two Wheeler & Ski Dealer
has stood as North Idaho's premier local bike shop. With a dedicated team of passionate and knowledgeable staff, they are committed to elevating YOUR cycling experience to new heights! They have a vast inventory of over 300 bikes, ranging from Push bikes to e-Bikes, and everything in between. More than a bike shop, they are a community hub, dedicated to promoting the myriad benefits of cycling.
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Business Partners offer their services at a discount in order to meet the needs of those rising out of hardship. They give clients the dignity of interacting in the business world for their needs, not just receiving handouts. The role played by these partners cannot be overstated!
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Donor's Corner: Why We Give
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The Women's Gift Alliance (WGA) is a local, philanthropic, women’s organization that awards annual grants through a rigorous grant application and site review process. Grants are voted upon and awarded to organizations that make a significant community impact.
Charity Reimagined and its Tracker ini
tiative caught the hearts and minds of these women. Out of 271 applicants this year, Charity Reimagined made it to the top 5 and received a very generous award of $5,000 in June! To have made it to the ballot was amazing. The exposure to this influential group of women cannot be measured. Thank you, WGA, for believing in this work!
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If you're new or would like to learn more, we'd love to grab coffee with you and get connected. Your partnership makes effective charity in Kootenai County possible.
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OUR VISION
No matter how big or small, no single church, charity, or “helping” organization can meet all needs. But, by all of us working together through communication and collaboration to identify categories of care and responding appropriately, pride can replace shame, hope can replace despair, and lives can be changed.
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