POST FALLS - Help for area seniors is on the way.

The Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho announced the creation of an endowment fund for the aging population on Wednesday during a ceremony at the Post Falls Senior Center.

"The Aging Services for North Idaho endowment is one approach to generating more resources," said Pearl Bouchard, the agency's director.

Additional ways to create funds were identified as a need in the agency's five-year plan.

The agency provides services for aging and/or disabled adults, their families and caregivers, including adult protective services, ombudsman, case management, retired and senior volunteer program, home-delivered meals, counseling and referral services. It serves Idaho's five northern counties.

"For more than five years now we have been experiencing more people qualifying for services than we have resources to serve," Bouchard said.

The North Idaho College board of trustees recently passed a resolution to allow the agency to form a partnership with nonprofit Inland Northwest Community Foundation. NIC is the parent organization for Agency on Aging.

In addition to the resolution, the INWCF requires $10,000 to open an endowment fund.

"The agency decided to seek founding members for the endowment, asking (individuals and organizations) to contribute," Bouchard said.

As of Wednesday, the date goal to reach the amount, $13,000 had been committed to the project.

Individual founding members recognized at the ceremony include: Larry Verhei of Sandpoint; Bob Small of Post Falls, Jake Plummer of Sandpoint; Pat Krug of Coeur d'Alene; John and Phyllis Albee of Post Falls; Joanna and John Adams of Coeur d'Alene; and Tim and Heather Gray of Rathdrum.

Agencies establishing founding member status include: ResCare Home Care, Gentiva, Bestland, Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho, Advisory Council on Aging and AAging Better In-Home Care.

Krug, who has been involved with a program through the Windermere Foundation that provides a Christmas for seniors and has worked alongside the Agency on Aging, said she was inspired to give because of what the agency does.

"They are so dedicated," she said. "It's important to recognize our seniors. I consider it an honor to be a part of it."

Heather Gray is on the agency's advisory council and owns Generations Assisted Living.

"I challenge other long-term care facilities to keep up and be a founding member," she said.

Contributions were also received from Norma White of Sandpoint; Mary Jacobsen of Hayden; and Marilyn and Jay Anders of Coeur d'Alene.

"Now that the endowment is available through INWCF, the agency is able to engage potential donors in charitable giving," Bouchard said.

INWCF will work with potential donors and manage the endowment investments and distributions.

"The intent is to create an endowment large enough that the interest earnings will fill in the gaps of unmet needs and assist the five northern counties of Idaho in developing new programming as needs change from one generation to another," Bouchard said.