COEUR d'ALENE - Carolyn Shewfelt, manager of the Community Action Partnership food bank in Coeur d'Alene, closed her eyes and uttered a huge sigh of relief.

The food bank had just received $6,000 from United Way of Kootenai County. It was one of 24 local nonprofits to share in $200,000 in grants handed out Wednesday during a luncheon at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

The Community Care Fund money comes as a blessing to Shewfelt, because like most charitable help organizations, the food bank is experiencing burgeoning need and dwindling resources.

"Yesterday was the busiest day we've ever had," Shewfelt said. "It was shoulder-to-shoulder all day long."

The grant dollars, collected during United Way's 2011 Giving Campaign, were appropriated through a new "Community Impact" strategy.

"Our board has established four pillars for what we call a good life," said United Way director Caryl Johnston.

Those pillars are basic needs, income, education and health, and United Way has created four corresponding Community Impact Councils. The councils began meeting two months ago to review grant proposals for local programs.

"The needs in our community are complex," Johnston said. "By acting together we can make positive change in the community that we could never achieve acting alone."

Donor dollars come to United Way from throughout the community. Organizations that raise funds for United Way were honored during the luncheon also. Major fundraising awards went to Allegra Print and Imaging, Spirit of United Way; US Bank, Spirit of United Way; Campaign Coordinator of the Year, Rebecca Greer from the US Bank call center; Mountain West Bank, Chairman's Award; Costco, Outstanding Campaign; and Jerry Chambers, Volunteer Extraordinaire.

"Is United Way worth our time, energy and resources?" asked Rick Barton, who was introduced during the luncheon as one of the co-chairs of the 2012 United Way Giving Campaign. "When I look at what we witnessed today, it reaffirms the role United Way plays in our community."

Barton retired last year as region president of US Bank. His co-chair is his wife, Joyce, a retired school teacher. "The Community Cares Fund is all about strengthening people and renewing hope," Barton said.

Joyce said that through her recent work with United Way, she had a chance to become familiar with the various charitable organizations in the area.

"Every person that I talked to at a nonprofit became a hero to me," Joyce said. The 2012 campaign kicks off Sept. 15.