Our Director Writes:

The Holidays are coming! Family Promise thanks Cathy Pagles for offering us a table at the Falls Christian Assembly Craft Fair on November 7th. There was the hustle and bustle of getting ready for a gala event. People were selling everything from home to holiday décor, baking sheets to kitchen knives. One of my favorites was the salsa station. Spicy!

We had a beautiful outpouring of donations from crafty volunteers from our network that included four quilts we raffled. Because we are family oriented, Jill Dougherty made fresh baked holiday cookies that kiddos could come by and decorate for only a dollar. Thank you to the FPNI staff and our honored volunteer, Christina Heater, who (wo)manned the booth that day.

December 5th is our next holiday fair at Dalton Gardens Church of Christ. We welcome donations of homemade goods to benefit Family Promise. Our lucky raffle winners were: Donna Smith, Teri Cameron, Holly Olson and Jolene Pooley.

~Cindy Wood

Our Volunteer Coordinator Writes:

Last week Christmas Wish Lists went out to all our churches so they could help make this holiday season a bright one for our guests, both present and past. Past guests will be receiving fruit baskets with gift cards from grocery stores/gas stations. Current guests will be given some needed items from the Wish Lists, as well as gift cards to use at restaurants during Christmas week.

The gifts will be distributed at the Christmas Party Sunday, December 20, from 6-8 pm. The party is being hosted on a private farm in Post Falls, and will feature a bonfire, hot chocolate, cookies, and a sleigh ride for those who wish to go.

Individuals who desire to help beyond what their church does could bring Gas Cards (through supermarkets) or cash to help with utility bills to the Day Center before December 17.

~Anita Kronvall

December News Update:

• 3 more families graduate to independence
• A father currently in the program has found a job
• Last 4 beds purchased by Bed Buddies
• New Case Manager hired (see Page 2)
• Ecumenical Service well attended and generous contributions received
• Individual contributions increased for November
• Larger trailer has been purchased & painted
• First FPNI family has benefitted from Rapid Re-housing Program
• Guests will again go to the Comfort Inn for the holidays
• Cardboard Box City netted over $2,500

We are blessed!

‘Once in a Blue Moon Blast’ to Benefit Family Promise of North Idaho

The month of December 2009 will have that rare occurrence of having two full moons in one month – the second moon being a ‘Blue Moon’. There will not be another two-moon month again until August 2012.

As a nod to this lunar phenomenon, a Once in a Blue Moon Blast is planned for Tuesday, December 29th, at Capone’s Pub and Grill in Post Falls as a benefit for Family Promise of North Idaho. This ‘rare’ evening of fun in support of Kootenai county families in crisis will feature food and drink specials throughout the evening, along with a silent auction and giveaways. The fun begins at 5 p.m. at Capone’s: 315 N. Ross Point Road in Post Falls. Capone’s features Blue Moon ales among its many select brews, so promotional items from the Blue MoonBrewing Company will be featured.

For information or to donate auction items and/or volunteer, contact Jill Dougherty at 818.5465.

Give a gift that shows you care this holiday season with a FPNI Gift Card. All you need to do is let us know whom you wish to receive the Gift Card to acknowledge your donation on their behalf. Mail or bring in that donation to our Day Center. You will receive a thank-you letter and receipt for tax purposes.

Your Gift Card recipient will receive a Christmas card, along with the adjacent Gift Card with your name and donation. (The dollar amount will not be disclosed on the Gift Card; instead a service equivalent will be listed.)

The Value of Your Gift Card

• $10 The cost to safely feed and shelter a child overnight
• $25 The cost to safely feed and shelter a family overnight
• $70 The cost to safely feed and shelter a child for a week
• $150 The cost to safely feed and shelter a family for a week

Can you fill the FPNI Stockings?

• 4’ Table •
• Stop Watch •
• Laundry Soap •
• Dryer Sheets •
• Small Book Shelf •
• Power Point Projector •
• Case of Computer Paper•
•2 Matching Shower Curtains for Men’s Restroom•

New Case Manager

Hi! My name is Taryn Nichols, and I am the new case manager here with Family Promise. I am a born-and-raised North Idaho Native, and this will always be my home. My parents are farmers on the Rathdrum Prairie, and my sister is an All-American athlete playing soccer for New Mexico State. Family is of utmost importance to me. I am blessed to be able to raise my daughter in this area with most all of our family within 90 minutes.

I graduated from Idaho State University with a B.S. in Community Health Education and a minor in Psychology. I never knew my education would lead me on this route, but it seems like every day I am able to apply something I learned in school!

I have been working with families in our community for the past year, and absolutely love having the opportunity to help so many people. Along with my position here at Family Promise, I also work with ICARE teaching parenting classes, facilitating Circle of Parents and doing individualized home visits to improve parenting skills. I cherish the opportunity to wear "two hats" and help more families in need. My personal mission is to change peoples' stereotypes and attitudes about the homeless and those who are struggling. It is SO important to understand that the families we work with are in a temporary situation--it's not who they are. We all need a little help sometimes, and I am glad to be one of their "stepping stones" along the way.

Life is good, and if I can help people realize that they can get to feeling that way, too, I will have done my job!

Two New Board Members!

We are delighted to welcome TWO new members to our Board of Trustees, Gail Wallace and Rob Stephens.

Gail has long been an advocate for community service, both as president of her PEO chapter and through her work in her husband’s law firm, Wallace Legal. She and husband Rich have lived in the Post Falls area for 40 years and raised four sons. Gail attends Christ the King Lutheran Church and has taught Sunday School there for over 25 years. She breeds and raises horses that are used for dressage and jumping.

Rob is currently the Treasurer of the Spokane Interfaith Hospitality Network Board. He is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BankCDA in Coeur d’Alene. He attends Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane where he lives with his wife of 16 years and their two daughters. Rob grew up in the Spokane Valley but his parents had a cabin on Coeur d'Alene Lake so he has spent a lot of time in North Idaho. He enjoys biking and golf.

Family Promise of North Idaho is a proud recipient of funding and support by the Women's Gift Alliance.