Newsletter Archive

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!

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Day of Hope Redesign: From One Day to Lasting Change

On July 12, 208 Ministries — in partnership with Convoy of Hope — hosted the
5th Annual Day of Hope in Kootenai County. But this year marked a meaningful shift.
The founders asked Charity Reimagined to redesign the event to move beyond simply “giving things away” and toward building real, lasting impact.

Historically, Day of Hope has served as a one-day, one-stop shop for meeting a variety of short-term needs in our community in a fun, family-centered way. This time around, instead of only focusing on relief for immediate needs, the event capitalized on the opportunity to call attendees beyond their current crisis by providing relational connection and long-term development.

 

People came for groceries and left with a plan to get a job.

 

We partnered with six trusted local organizations — each offering hands-on support to help people move from crisis to stability and flourishing. These Referring Partners hosted interactive “Zones” where attendees could learn about services, engage in conversation, and schedule follow-ups. Visiting each zone also made them eligible to win one of eight thoughtful raffle baskets — but the real reward was the opportunity to connect, plan, and take hopeful steps forward. Each of our Referring Partners said it was the best outreach event they’ve participated in .

One woman, a single mother escaping domestic violence, almost didn’t attend. Coming to the event, she says she felt "hopeless, isolated, and powerless." She knew she needed a job but felt unemployable due to her erratic schedule of hearings and caregiving to her three children, one of whom is high needs.

 

But after connecting with Louisa with the Center for New Directions at the event, she walked away with a plan, support, and, most importantly, renewed hope. She is now working with our partners to launch a flexible business that will provide income but be adaptable to her schedule — a beautiful example of dignity restored and potential unlocked .

This fresh approach to the Day of Hope reflects Charity Reimagined’s mission: it’s not about whether help is needed — it’s about how it’s delivered. Research shows that 80% of charitable efforts go toward short-term rescue, leaving only 20% for long-term development. Day of Hope is flipping that script and ensuring short-term efforts are woven together with holistic development.

Tina owned a local IT business for many years. During this time she was able to connect not only with many local businesses, but provide support to our area non-profits through sponsorship and donations. After stepping away from her role as CEO last fall she invested her new found time into volunteering. It is through this volunteer work that she was referred to Charity Reimagined.

 

"I learned about Charity Reimagined from Vanessa Moos of Canopy Village . It was my first time hearing about the organization. As I researched and learned more about Charity Reimagined I found myself nodding my head and getting excited. The mission and programs of Charity Reimagined deeply align with how I feel. I am excited to help grow Charity Tracker in connecting our area agencies and lifting up those in need." 

DOING BENEVOLENCE BETTER

(with dignity)

 

Rethinking Charity: Going Beyond the Handout

When Dr. Robert Lupton wrote Toxic Charity , he offered a courageous reflection on the
unintended consequences of one-way giving. Through decades of experience walking alongside people in poverty, he identified a common and harmful five-step progression when someone receives an item repeatedly with no participation from the recipient:

1. Appreciation – The first gift is received with gratitude.
2. Anticipation – The next gift is expected.
3. Expectation – It becomes assumed.
4. Entitlement – The giver is now obligated.
5. Dependency – The recipient loses agency and initiative.

At Charity Reimagined, this framework helped shape our founding. We believe true charity doesn’t stop at meeting immediate needs—it works to uncover the root causes  and walks with people toward lasting change.

We can give away food or coats to children all day long—and we do, thanks to the generosity of this incredible community. But if we never ask why those children are going without basic necessities at home, we miss the chance to go upstream. We miss the deeper opportunity to bring change to the systems and circumstances keeping families stuck.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about learning what’s really going on.

Maybe the child is being raised by grandparents living on a tight Social Security income, too proud—or too afraid of losing custody—to ask for help. Maybe a single mom has no working stove and no way to get to work reliably, or she’s never had the chance to learn how to budget, cook, or stretch a dollar because no one ever taught her.

 

When we only provide relief—without relationship—we risk reinforcing the very cycles we hope to break. We risk mistaking short-term aid for long-term help.

That’s why real help must ask more, not less.
We must ask people what their dreams are.
We must understand what barriers stand in their way.
We must provide support in a way that honors their dignity and affirms their potential.

 

In recent years, Charity Reimagined has grown into a catalyst for this kind of response, both through our own initiatives and our involvement in local organizations and events. We’re proud to be helping our community move beyond the handout mindset—and toward lasting, human-centered solutions. 

 

We know that lasting change takes time. It requires listening, collaboration, courage, and long-term commitment —from both those seeking help and those offering it. But when we move together in this way, we build more than charity. We build pathways to possibility.

Join us in reimagining how we give.

If you support a charity that offers one-way giving—where resources are handed out with no questions asked—we challenge you to dig deeper. Ask whether that model truly helps people move forward. Ask what could change if we gave in a way that invited dignity, exchange, and long-term growth.

Encourage your favorite organizations to rethink how they help. Have the courage to challenge the status quo. Invite them to reach out to Charity Reimagined —not to stop what they’re doing, but to explore how they might do it differently.

That’s exactly what happened with 208 Ministries and the Day of Hope. The event was
redesigned —shifting from a one-day giveaway to a day of listening, relationship-building, and pathways forward. And the results? They’re exciting, hopeful, and a strong foundation for growing the new format in years to come.

This is your invitation to be part of a movement that restores dignity, removes barriers, and reimagines what charity can be. Your support powers long-term solutions—like CharityTracker, Christmas for All-Year, and Rides for a Reason—that help families move from surviving to thriving.

Let’s not settle for what feels good. Let’s work together to do what actually helps.

REFERRING PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

208 Ministries

Jordan and Amy Redman are the visionary founders of 208 Ministries . Their story began with a desire to make a difference, leading them to establish 208 Ministries as a platform for impactful initiatives. In addition to establishing a tech school in Africa, they extend their support to various organizations, including Convoy of Hope , Newby-ginnings , Charity Reimagined , Miracle on Britton , Hope Computer Training School, and many others. 

Referring Partners are front-line poverty-fighting warriors, our community's Unsung Heroes, serving the poor. They refer their clients to Charity Reimagined for specific assistance tailored to our work. 

BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Ellenbecker Eye Clinic

Ellenbecker Eye Clinic is located in Coeur d’Alene, and they offer a wide range of optometric services and eye care products including eyeglasses, specialty eyewear, frames, and contact lenses. Thanks to our partnership with Dr. Cindy and Dr. Wayne Ellenbecker, many in our community are working because they have restored eyesight.

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! 

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. 

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.

CHARITY REIMAGINED | [ CharityReimgained.org ]

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