“Family Promise of North Idaho is a bold new venture with creative and tangible ways for people in our community to help the homeless,” said Janice Baldwin, the founder and President of the Women’s Gift Alliance (WGA). On June 11, Family Promise of North Idaho (FPNI) board and volunteers attended a luncheon to receive a gift of $23,500 from the Women’s Gift Alliance of Kootenai County. FPNI was one of two recipients in this competitive grant.

These funds will be utilized by FPNI to help pay for essentials for the Day Center including rent and phone as well as salaries of staff.

The WGA, a collective of Kootenai County women who pool their charitable donations to increase the impact of their giving, is in its fifth year of presenting grants. Their mission, is to pool the talents and resources of women in Kootenai County to provide meaningful financial support to a broad range of charitable, cultural and educational projects within our community.

“The process is driven in principles of integrity, accountability, investigation and transformation,” said Baldwin. Over 16 non-profit applicants had applied for these two grants. The field of applicants was narrowed to 9, then eventually 5 applicants. Site visits were conducted by the WGA grant committee at the 5 applicant locations. The WGA grant committee then made a presentation of the final 5 applicants to the general membership, at that time members voted on the final 2 awardees.
FPNI is grateful to the Women’s Gift Alliance for their generous gift. As our Executive Director, Cindy Wood stated, “The WGA gift is more than just a check. It is community endorsement.”

We'll Miss You, Lynne! Lynne M. Downs stepped down as President of Family Prmise of North Idaho at the June 15th Board of Trustees meeting. Lynne has served on the Board since FPNI’s inception and as Board President this past year. A move to Seattle for Lynne and husband John compelled her resignation. Her strong leadership and enduring vision will be greatly missed!

I am happy to report that the addition of our part-time Case Manager, Lisa Crumb, has been a blessing both to our guests and to our volunteers! Lisa came to us through a generous grant from The Inland Northwest Community Foundation. Lisa brings a diverse wealth of experience in the social service world.

In an organization that touts 500 + volunteers, coordination is key. Lisa has become famous for her charts and schedules. These tools have allowed our guests and volunteers to engage in the program in a more meaningful way. Lisa facilitates regular house meetings that allow our guests to know more about their schedules and have a forum to work out concerns with the program and each other. These meetings also give them the opportunity to network with each other about what works and what doesn’t on the road to independence.

The Case Manager’s primary role is to guide guests to the resources in our community that will allow their families to be self-sustaining. Our guests benefit from Lisa’s experience as she acts as a liaison to childcare options, health and wellness, added transportation options and vehicle ownership. Lisa’s communication skills have also helped our volunteers to better understand their roles with our guests and be more confident in their ability to be hospitable. We are fortunate to have Lisa onboard; she has made Family Promise of North Idaho a stronger organization through her talents, gifts, and passion!

Who could fill the shoes of Lynne Downs or Earl Kendle, our first two Presidents of the Family Promise Board of Trustees? Each of them gave huge amounts of time, energy, and love to establish our North Idaho network.

In the last year, besides coordinating with the trustees, director, and volunteers, Lynne has recruited congregations, written grants, and kept the needs of the Network and the guests on her heart and in her prayers. Thank you, Lynne! We will miss you as you join your husband in Seattle.

We have been blessed by leaders who had the timely gifts we needed. As the new president, I bring a passion for serving the vulnerable people in our area. The flock I shepherd at Calvary Lutheran in Post Falls, also feeds hungry people by partnering at a “soup kitchen” and by growing an acre-sized “victory garden” for the food bank. Working together, through Family Promise, we can faithfully follow God’s call to serve and share the Lord’s gracious love! I will be joined by the other newly elected officers: Vice President Phil Cowan, Secretary Bev Moss, and Treasurer Dana Woodall.

I’m looking forward to continuing work with the Board of Trustees, Director Cindy, Case Manager Lisa, and all the valuable volunteers who provide a home for our guests! Bless you all.

FPNI Host Churches for June and July

Calvary Christian Fellowship Becomes 11th Host Church

Rev. Terry Robinson of Calvary Christian Fellowship (CCF) in Spirit Lake believes a church should be like a fresh pond, with a healthy inlet and outlet. It was for that reason that his church became involved in Family Promise of North Idaho’s network of congregations. CCF began as a support congregation, uplifting the efforts of Spirit Lake Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church. The churches share the same facility, so the Calvary Christian congregation recently decided they could host an additional week on their own there, becoming FPNI’s 11th host church. It was about keeping the ministry fresh and growing. “We have been a support church from the beginning,” says Pr. Robinson. “We just decided that if we hosted the week following SDA, the families could stay in one place and not have to move so soon.” Pr. Robinson handles the coordination of volunteers, starting about 2 weeks in advance filling in the volunteer slots for overnight hosts, van driving, etc. He is assisted by Lyn Graham, who lines up all of the food for their host week. “We run it out of the church body,” he said. “We make an appeal and have people sign up. Each time we have some that continually participate, and then we get new families, too. Our philosophy is a ‘want to’ not a ‘have to’.” Pr. Robinson’s advice to churches that are considering joining the FPNI Network is to pray about their involvement. “They should ask themselves: ‘Is God in this’? There are so many well meaning things to get involved in; people have to first determine what God wants them to do. Then, He’ll supply everything needed to accomplish the task… If you are following His lead, (enthusiasm) won’t wear out. I believe if the Lord is leading and guiding you, there is a definitely a spirit of ‘want to’ rather than a ‘have to’. “For a church to be fresh and nourishing in the community, it has to be clean and fresh, with healthy inflow and outflow. If a church is not out-flowing, it’s not giving. It becomes stagnant; filled up with the silt of life, and no good to anybody.”

What Our Volunteers Are Saying
I volunteer at the Day Center of Family Promise of North Idaho for a few hours each Wednesday. In August 2008, I retired after working for roughly 45 years. I wondered when I left my job – “What will I do with myself?” In my church, we often talk about being called to do work. In my case, I was called by God through Lynne Downs. Lynne knew that I had a great deal of office work experience and she told me that the Day Center at Family Promise North Idaho (FPNI) needed someone who could answer phones and perform general office work. After considering this call, I went into the Day Center one day and talked with the Executive Director, Cindy Wood. I gave her an oral summary of my experience and asked if I could help. She made me feel needed, wanted and comfortable. I enjoy my work at FPNI. It gives me great joy to do something for which I have a gift and to be a part of this exciting program that helps families in need. Everyone I have met at the Day Center is filled with joy, good will and sharing. So I love being there! It is a place where I can keep my computer skills current, where I can help others to learn new computer skills, and where I can share my gifts. ~Kaye LeFebvre
When I was given the opportunity to be a van driver for FPNI, I was concerned because I didn't know how it would fit into my existing schedule.  I have been driving the van three mornings a week for over a year and have found it to be something that I look forward to doing I enjoy the morning drive to the Spirit Lake SDA church and to Camp White.  Driving the van is an easy thing to do. I leave the Day Center about 30 minutes before the pick-up time at the local church, make stops at local schools or for appointments for the participating family, and then return to the Day Center (usually around 8:00am or earlier).  There is a book of directions and maps to each church that is kept in the van.  Being a van driver allows me to meet a great group of people, both our guests and the hosts at each church, that I would probably never have the opportunity to meet otherwise. If driving the van may be something you may be interested in doing, I would urge you to contact the FPNI office and give it a try.  Additional drivers are always needed and would be very much appreciated. ~Jim Alexander
Summer Photo Gallery                 (Below, left) Cindy Wood, along with FPNI volunteers John Leyh and Phil Cowan, accept the new rollaway beds from FedEx at the Day Center; (Below, right) Board member Jan Leaf preps for dinner in the Trinity Lutheran Church kitchen.	(Far Left) Family Promise Volunteers participate in the 4th of July Hero's Parade in Coeur d'Alene; (Left) Dana Woodall, CPA, is the new FPNI Treasurer;     Download a Volunteer Brochure