Newsletter Archive

September 2025

SEEING POTENTIAL, NOT POVERTY

Each month brings new progress in rethinking charity--shifting from quick fixes to lasting impact. Thank you for being part of this important work. Here's a peak at what we've been up to this month:

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Announcing Charity Reimagined's Annual Training

Every year, we ask organizations in our community what kind of training would best bridge the gaps in the work being done and best equip them in serving those around us.

Last year, our event SOLD OUT, and tickets for this year's event are selling quickly .

Our speakers, Keith Orchard and Raelynn Loken, bring a host of field knowledge coupled with a specific passion for Kootenai County and the particular barriers facing this community.

From 8:30am-3:30pm on 10/28, they will lead us through the 8 Domains of Wellness and how they apply to our lives and those we serve. The event will provide practical strategies to equip participants to support whole-person wellness in our community .

For social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists seeking continuing education credits, this event qualifies for 5.5 continuing education units.

SPEAKER BIOS:

Keith Orchard has anchored his professional services to supporting the families, organizations, and systems that care for our community’s children. A licensed clinical social worker, Keith serves as the Mental Health Coordinator for Coeur d’Alene Public Schools. He was formerly an environmental educator in the Peace Corps, wilderness therapy guide, senior clinician at Idaho Youth Ranch, clinical supervisor of the Family Advocate Program at the Marine Corps Base in Hawai’i, and a classroom teacher in Redmond Washington.

Raelynn Loken is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She spent the first eight years of her Social Work career in Child Welfare before moving to the CDA School District as a School Social Worker and presently as the Mental Health Specialist. North Idaho is her home, and the mental well-being of her community is greatly important to her. She is passionate about normalizing mental health and is a strong advocate for social-emotional learning. She also works for Village of Hope CDA which has inspired her to use her skill set to bring deep healing to the foster care community as well as to the community at large.

We are THRILLED to learn alongside you and network together as we work to love this community and do benevolence better!

Meet the Team:

Christmas for All Year Committee

Over the past few months, we have been introducing some members of our amazing team to you! Each person plays a crucial role in the work we do, and we want you to get to know them a bit. This month, we are introducing our Christmas for All-Year Committee!

From left to right in the photo: Jane Murphy, Connie Drager, Beth Schaller, Brooke Dunton, John Garbutt, and Nancy Prussack. Volunteers not pictured: Keke Stoeser, Denise White, Nicole Rumpel, and Amy Voeller.

This Christmas for All Year (CFA-Y) Committee is the team that makes it possible for CFA-Y to serve as more than a one-sized-fits-all program. This committee's investment of time and talent enables awards to be tailored to each person reaching out.

Our Referring Partners refer applicants to CFA-Y, and this team of dedicated individuals reads through every application, assesses qualification, and determines how best the individual's needs can be met.

They work closely with our Business Partners to address the needs of the applicants. They also consider how best to structure a small copayment by the applicant, fostering the applicant's shared responsibility and pride in receiving the CFA-Y assistance. Since the redesign of CFA-Y five years ago, the copay has never been an obstacle to receiving an award.

A huge thank you to these volunteers who make the personalized CFA-Y awards possible.

DOING BENEVOLENCE BETTER

(with dignity)

The Power of Partnership

This month, Hope Reins hosted our Referring Partner Meeting, and, as always, it was a rich time of learning and connection.

Poverty is complex, and no single organization can meet every need alone - and that's a gift. When each organization brings its unique strengths to the table and unites with others doing the same, it creates a powerful force that helps individuals and families not just escape poverty but build lasting stability.

That's why our monthly Referring Partner (RP) meetings are so vital--they're not just networking, they're a space to share ideas, resources, and encouragement so that our community care is smarter, stronger, and more effective.

What does partnership look like for your organization?

Our Vision (printed at the bottom of every newsletter) reminds us:

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.

The challenge? Even when we want to work together, barriers get in the way. We often hear from donors and staff alike:

"I don't have time." Partnership done well actually saves time. By focusing on your core mission and connecting with others for what's outside your wheelhouse, you free yourself from doing it all - and serve people more effectively.
"Partnership feels complicated." It doesn't have to be. Sometimes it's as simple as a phone call, a referral, or 15 minutes of intentional planning.
"It's hard to find like-minded organizations." They're out there. Organizations committed to listening, learning, and helping people overcome real barriers do exist.

One easy and practical step you can take toward partnering with organizations in our community is through Charity Tracker .

The barriers listed above are the exact reason why we are passionate about Tracker. Tracker unleashes the power of partnership for organizations in a streamlined fashion.

Charity Reimagined has been providing this secure, shared communication and collaboration platform for helping organizations throughout Kootenai (and now Bonner) County at no cost since 2022. This incredible tool:

Records client goals in one place - giving a full picture of progress.
Facilitates communication so organizations can respond together, not in isolation.
Wraps resources quickly around people, removing barriers like housing, childcare, or transportation so families can move forward faster.

The result? Organizations focus on their mission, people get the dignity of comprehensive support, and donors see their investment multiplied through collaboration.

As Jules Cosby from the Salvation Army Kroc Center puts it:

"Charity Tracker has transformed how I provide support to the community in the best ways; allowing me to collaborate with local support agencies more effectively to provide comprehensive wrap around support to individuals to give dignity, elevate care, and transform lives through our collective effort."

This is the power of partnership. With Charity Tracker, we can move beyond good intentions to measurable, life-changing impact - together.

Ready to take the next step? Reach out below - we would love to connect, share organizations we trust, and have our specialist show you the power of the Tracker software.

REFERRING PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

IdaHope Families

IdaHope Families is a nonprofit ministry of Jesus Christ dedicated to supporting families in crisis through compassionate volunteers from local churches, devoted to keeping kids safe and families together. Their vision is to prevent child abuse by equipping families in crisis with solutions for success.

IdaHope Families steps in when families have no one to call to help them during overwhelming and dangerous circumstances.

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

Appleway Automotive

Appleway Automotive never guesses when it comes to auto repairs, and they are equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment to ensure they get the job done right the first time. Their technicians operate at the highest level of integrity, not just looking to make a quick profit. From routine maintenance, major repairs, tune-ups, oil changes and lube services, brakes, batteries, and more, they want to build a long lasting relationship with you and your vehicle.

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!

Gratitude Corner

In an effort to do the most good for the most people in our community, the Greater Love Council was formed last March by Father David Gortner of St. Luke’s Church in CDA and Steve and Marilyn Griffitts. Charity Reimagined was invited to share our vision, mission, and current work at their 2nd meeting.

"There were several repeat attendees and some valuable new faces in the group. In addition to others, Maggie Lyons, Louisa Rogers, and Tina Peralta from Charity Reimagined finished out the evening, teaching us a better approach to charity and how to effectively offer and track help for our neighbors in need. We are grateful for this partnership!"

-Marilyn Griffitts, Greater Love Council Founder

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.