Forty-four people from six area churches attended the garden party and dedication of the ‘Earl Kendle Family Promise Garden’ on Sunday, June 7, at the Falls Christian Assembly (FCA) in Post Falls. Earl Kendle, past president and founder of Family Promise of North Idaho (FPNI), was surprised to learn the garden was named in his honor. He is often referred to as the “Father of FPNI” due to his early work in starting the network which provides emergency, temporary housing and services to families in crisis.

With a reminder that it all started with a garden, Pastor Jim Pagels of Falls Christian lead a beautiful prayer to dedicate the ground. FCA donated the plot for the garden, from which the fruit and vegetables will go to families hosted in the FPNI network. (The FPNI Day Center is also headquartered in part of the FCA building). Should the garden prove to be bountiful, FPNI volunteers hope to provide FCA’s ‘Project Hope’ outreach and the Post Falls Food Bank with its fresh, organic food.

Many attending the garden party stayed to put in the plants with FPNI volunteers and families. Donations of plants were so generous, that there was also a plant sale with funds benefitting FPNI. Most notably, Jake Judge, owner of Eltopia West Greenhouse in Eltopia, WA, donated a trailer load of beautiful fruit and vegetables of every kind. Others making the garden a reality were Gary and Jennifer DiPietro and grandson, Jon, who prepared the once-grassyplot for planting; Huckleberry Nursery, who provided delivery of top soil and site preparation. Other donors included Lee and Bob Ray, Tom & Sharon Conlon, Dick & Jill Jurvelin, Pr. Doug and Susan Waltar, Pr. Willard & Joanne Santee, Dennis & Lisa Crumb, Mike & Cindy Wood, John & Lynne Downs, Craig & Jan Leaf, Mary Hickman, Kate Zubaly, and Bill & Jill Dougherty.

If you would like to get involved in volunteering with FPNI, call Cindy Wood at 777-4190. Gardeners are most welcome!

View a slideshow of the 'evolution of
the Earl Kendle Family Promise Garden'

Do you have a vision for Family Promise of North Idaho? Or have you heard the ‘buzz’ about the non-profit organization making a difference for families in crisis in Kootenai County and want to help chart its future priorities and directions?
Then you are invited to be involved in an upcoming Strategic Planning Session hosted by the FPNI Board on Friday, June 26. Hosted hors d’oeuvres and light beverages will be available during the informal reception and planning session from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 N. 5th Street in Coeur d’Alene.

“The Board wishes anyone with a vision for Family Promise and its mission to come and offer suggestions, ideas, thoughts, inspirations, and dreams as we embark on the next few years,” says Lynne Downs, FPNI President. “We need input from our volunteers – the ‘backbone of FPNI’ – and the community at large. We welcome their thoughts and visions of where the organization will go, and suggestions on how to better serve. Everyone’s opinion counts as we each offer a ‘hands up’ so our families can succeed.”

On hand to facilitate the brain-storming and planning event will be a representative from the national Family Promise organization, Diana DeJesus-Medina. She is the Director of Affiliate Services of Family Promise and will lead the examination of FPNI’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. DeJesus-Medina will help us evaluate our board, staff, funding, local agency collaboration and more.

Please mark your calendar and join us as we look to a brighter future – for FPNI and our mission to provide emergency housing and job assistance to families in crisis.

For information, call Cindy Wood, Executive Director of Family Promise of North Idaho, at 777-4190.

FPNI Host Churches for June and July