SANDPOINT — More than $18,000 has been awarded to community groups by the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force.

The grants were awarded to a variety of groups and for a variety of causes, including to a local group to help feed hungry children to a group dedicated to help those without health insurance cover lab and testing costs.

Each year, the task force accepts grant applications from community non-profits, educational and governmental agencies for projects and activities related to human rights.

Originally founded to take a stand against the advance of the Aryan Nations into Bonner County, the task force's mission and scope has broadened over its 30-year history.

"The task force has looked to the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to help define what it stands for — and that includes things like the right of each individual to safety, basic needs, health care, to freedom of expression and from discrimination," Brenda Hammond, task force co-president, said.

That broad support for basic human needs, from health care to freedom from discrimination is evident in the broad range of the funding granted during this grant cycle, Hammond said.

A total of $18,882 in grant were awarded. Grants were awarded to:

_ Food for our Children, to help provide meals for children attending Bonner County Schools and Head Start;

_ Bonner Partners in Care Clinic—to help pay for lab work, referrals, testing, transportation and blood pressure monitors for clients with no health insurance;

_ Community Cancer Center for transportation to treatment;

_ CASA to provide tutoring and educational assistance to child victims;

_ Music Bridges Borders, to help bring exchange students from Mexico;

_ Sandpoint Music Conservatory to provide scholarships and expand the number of students who have the opportunity to learn music;

_ the Panida Theater and KRFY to provide free films with human rights themes;

_ Pend Oreille Arts Council to present another “Living Voices” performance to students at the Lake Pend Oreille School District schools, plus a public performance;

_ Priest River Ministries, for financial assistance to survivors of violence for rent or house payments;

_ Sandpoint Teen Center, for games, activities and mentorship of local teens; to the Unique Center for Athletes of All Needs—to provide classes for teens and adults with special needs;

_ Better Together Animal Alliance to provide veterinary care, food and supplies to under-resourced pet owners.

A new grant cycle will open up in February of 2023.