United Way of North Idaho on Thursday announced the recipients of $100,000 in Community Care Fund grants for 2021.

The funds will be used to address school readiness, youth development, health, senior services and economic mobility.

Grants were awarded to 13 organizations in Kootenai, Bonner and Shoshone counties through a competitive application process.

"The people that were awarded were very solid, showed great programs and really strong outcomes," said Post Falls Food Bank executive director Leslie Orth, who also served on the financial committee for the Community Care Fund committee. The group reviewed grant applications and budgets, and conducted site visits before making recommendations for allocation of the funds.

Organizations selected for funding display strong financial and program accountability, impact identified community needs and collaboration with other organizations.

“These organizations work for the betterment of the communities we serve focusing on health, education and financial stability,” April Fortier, community impact chair on the United Way board of directors, stated in a news release. "Together we are making an impact, one grant at a time.”

The 2021 Community Care Fund recipients are:

• North Idaho College Children’s Center

• Gizmo-CDA

• Sandpoint Youth Center

• Lutherhaven Ministries

• Tesh

• CDAIDE

• Post Falls Food Bank

• Hayden Senior Center

• On-Site for Seniors

• Nurse-Family Partnership and Parents as Teachers at Panhandle Health District

• Safe Start/Northwest Infant Survival and SIDS Alliance

• Safe Passage

• St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho

"Our funds will go toward grocery rescue, and that is the key piece of our program without which we would not exist," Orth said. "It provides 75% of the food we get. It's a brilliant program."

Grocery rescue annually costs about $179,000 to run, but provides the Post Falls Food Bank with almost 1.5 million pounds of food, she said.

"It is a great, affordable way to get food for the county," Orth said. "I am always looking for support for that program, and United Way has consistently stepped up."

In 2020, programs funded in part by the Community Care Fund reached nearly 700 youth with quality out-of-school time supports, resulting in 85% of middle-school youth served achieving passing grades in core subjects and 74% developing soft skills.

Other programs connected 145 adults with access to affordable housing and financial services, and of those, 99% increased their disposable income.

The Community Care Fund is created through workplace campaign contributions and managed by local volunteers serving on Community Impact Councils.

"We are proud to be entrusted with these funds to invest them on behalf of our community," United Way of North Idaho community impact director Keri Cederquist said. "We’re honored to be able to support the community-based organizations who have a pulse on the obstacles and opportunities for our neighbors. When we as a society make sure everyone can reach their human potential and fully contribute, we all benefit."

To see results from past investments, as well as details of 2021 Community Care Fund partners, or to contribute to the fund, volunteer on a council or apply for funding, visit www.uwnorthidaho.org or call 208-667-8112.