SANDPOINT — When it comes to supporting local nonprofits that help others in need, every dollar helps.

That is why for the past three years, the Bonner County PRCA Rodeo has held a “Miracle Minute” fundraiser each evening of the two-night event, collecting as much money as they can in 60 seconds from the crowd. During this year’s rodeo in August, the fundraiser brought in more than $1,600. One-hundred percent of those funds was split between Community Cancer Services and Bonner Community Hospice.

“It’s not bad for two minutes,” said Jimmy Cornelius, president of the Bonner County PRCA Rodeo committee, as he presented the two organizations with checks for just over $800 each on Thursday.

Bonner Community Hospice is the only not-for-profit hospice in the area, said BCH manager Tami Fayen, so any money donated goes directly to client care.

“It’s an incredible gift that they are providing us,” Fayen said of the donation from the rodeo committee.

Hospice provides end-of-life care, and Fayen said they have walked that journey with clients of all ages, from young children to their oldest client who was 104. BCH serves about 155 clients each year in Bonner and Boundary counties, she said. Family members and loved ones receive counseling and bereavement care as well, to help them cope with the losses they face during the illness and with the grief they experience afterward.

Because BCH is a nonprofit, the organization relies on Bonner General Health and the community for funding, so she said support such as what they receive from the rodeo is “huge.”

“Our community is very supportive,” Fayen said.

For CCS, it has been a year of change as they recently had to move to a new location and their 10-year social worker stepped down, said CCS board president Sherri Lies. The organization currently has about 300 files, and while not all of those people need help every day, the need for cancer services never stops growing, she said.

CCS is funded solely by donations and grants, Lies said, and each client is alloted so much each month. So as the number of clients goes up, the less they are able to provide to each person. Lies said $3,000-$4,000 a month goes out just in gas vouchers to go to appointments and get treatment such as radiation, which is not available locally.

The organization recently held its “Night to Remember” fundraiser, bringing in about $50,000, and received a $10,000 101 Women grant, which will got toward those gas vouchers.

“So every dollar makes a huge difference for us,” Lies said. “... This was a very nice, unexpected donation.”

The 2018 event marked the third annual “Miracle Minute” fundraiser to support the two organizations. Cornelius said the committee wanted to ensure every penny they raise goes to go to the local organizations, and “Miracle Minute” allows them to do just that.

“It’s nice to keep everything right here in town,” said Mick McCrum, vice president of the rodeo committee.

The rodeo is heading into its fifth year as a professional rodeo, and anyone who wants to help out the two organizations by throwing some cash in the bucket are encouraged to do so on Aug. 2-3, 2019. Tickets go on sale online on June 15, 2019, at bonnercountyfair.com. For those who want to donate to the organizations before then, visit the BCH website at bit.ly/2A5MTWj, and the CCS website at communitycancerservices.com.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.