Money will help 19 area nonprofits deal with effects of COVID-19

April 23, 2020

The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation has approved $146,006 in Fast-Track Small Grants to 19 area nonprofits to help them deal with the COVID-19, the Coronavirus pandemic, its Board of Community Advisors have announced.

The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation funds grants to promote the health, wellness, or disease prevention of residents in a three-state, nine-county area: Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce in Idaho; Asotin, Garfield and Whitman in Washington; and Wallowa in Oregon.

The Fast-Track Small Grant, is a quick turnaround grant intended for small nonprofits that focus on health, wellness or disease prevention. This year, with the pandemic, the grant request was increased to up to $10,000 with a total of $360,000 available. Fast-Track Small Grant applications can be submitted throughout the year, but grant applications are reviewed and awarded monthly until funds are expended. Information and the application for Fast-Track Small Grants can be found on the Foundation’s website at Lewisclarkhealth.org.

Nonprofit organizations from Lewiston, Clarkston, Pomeroy, Grangeville, Moscow and Enterprise were among the Fast-Track Small Grant recipients. Nearly all of the requests address hardships brought on by the pandemic, including food preparation and delivery for senior citizens, providing shelter and food for the homeless, and the loss of revenue many are experiencing because of the inability to hold fundraisers because of social distancing policies. The fundraising revenues are critical to the basic operations of many organizations.

Dr. John Rusche, President of the Board of Community Advisors for the foundation, said he encourages the public to also donate to local efforts to address the COVID-19 emergency either directly to the nonprofit organizations or through the Idaho Gives campaign at www.idahogives.org.

The Foundation’s larger “Impact Grants” are also open for application and are intended for requests up to $75,000. However, the Foundation will consider compelling requests in any amount. Priority is given to applications that demonstrate a commitment to long-term vision, building partnerships, and projects that address the root causes that affect health, improve wellness, and help prevent disease.  A letter of inquiry form for 2020 grants is available on the Foundation’s website.

The Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation was established in 2017 by Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden as part of the sale of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center by Ascension Health to RCCH Healthcare Partners. The Idaho Attorney General’s office established specific guidelines for the grants and the Foundation’s Board of Community Advisors determines the annual grants to be made. The Idaho Attorney General’s office set up specific guidelines as to which categories of organizations are eligible to apply and what kind of grants may receive funds.  Those eligible to apply for grants are nonprofit tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) classification from the IRS, and governmental entities, if used exclusively for charitable purposes of the trust. All proposals must be for health, wellness, or disease prevention to qualify.

Idaho Trust Bank has been designated as the foundation’s trustee by Attorney General Lawrence Wasden. Idaho Trust Bank administers this foundation. Foundation assets are invested to provide a multi-generational benefit for this region.

For more information on the board or the grant process, visit the Foundation’s website or contact Idaho Trust Bank at 208-664-6448.

Here is the complete list of organizations that received Fast-Track Small Grants, the amount of the grant awarded, and what it will be used for.

  • Habitat for Humanity/Lewiston-Clarkston, $9,978, to assist with costs related to store closure and communication software needs.
  • First Step 4 Life Recovery, Lewiston, $10,000 to help with disease prevention while providing shelter in place to homeless population.
  • Garfield County Hospital District, Pomeroy, $10,000 to help with supplies and staffing for Garfield County Hospital with COVID-19 preparations.
    Community on Call, Clarkston, $6,000, Lift Cards for families to use $100 Walmart gift cards for essential items that the organization normally hands out each week to families but unable to do so during pandemic.
  • Interlink, Inc., Lewiston-Clarkston, $10,000, six-month RUOK program. The program calls homebound elders to see how they are doing in both Nez Perce and Asotin Counties.
  • Valley Community Center, Clarkston, $6,000, help organization with costs associated for providing three meals a week for home delivery in Senior Meal Program.
  • First Christian Church, Clarkston, $10,000, Red Door Kitchen Project, to help serve two meals a day, six days a week to homeless population.
  • Boys & Girls Club, Lewiston-Clarkston, $10,000, Youth Development Program general operating fund to help offset loss of funding/fundraiser.
  • Senior Citizens Dollar a Month Nutrition, Grangeville, $10,000, to provide home delivery for meals to senior citizens in Grangeville area.
  • Gina Quesenberry Foundation, Lewiston, $7,000, travel assistance for families who must travel to receive breast cancer treatments.
  • Opportunities Unlimited, Lewiston, $2,500 for technology upgrades so they can establish telehealth virtual groups with clients.
  • Snake River Community Clinic, Lewiston, $10,000, operating and medical expenses associated with pandemic.
  • Friendly Neighbors Senior Citizens, Inc., Moscow, $500, to help feed senior citizens for grab and go and home delivery.
  • Clarkston Community Garden, Clarkston, $3,000, operating funds with the shutdown of plant sale/farmer’s market.
  • Pomeroy Assist Garfield County Humanitarian Services, $10,000, Pomeroy, help individuals struck hard by pandemic by offering rent, utility, transportation, and other cost relief.
  • Salvation Army Lewiston Corps, Lewiston, $9,000, to help individuals and homeless with lodging, food and hygiene needs during pandemic.
  • Life Choices Clinic, Lewiston, $10,000, for operational funds to continue to provide services.
  • Sojourners’ Alliance, Moscow, $7,500, help with day-to-day expenses to operation Transitional Housing program and purchase sanitary items for homeless clients.
  • Rotary Foundation of Wallowa County, Enterprise, Ore., $4.528 for Project Heartbeat and purchase automated external defibrillators to place in key locations throughout Wallowa County