SANDPOINT — Even as they are reaching out to help and thank firefighters who have been working hard to save their homes, residents in southern Bonner County need help in resetting their lives after having been displaced from their homes by the Sunset Fire.

It was after two Community Resource EnVision Center tenants hesitantly asked for help — including one who is a single father who had to rent an Airbnb after evacuations left him with no child-friendly place to go — that the nonprofit's Katie Begalke had an idea.

It was a natural extension for the nonprofit, which acts as a community connector between those in need and resource providers, Begalke said. And, due to its partnerships with Love in Action and Helping Hands Healing Hearts, the nonprofit was perfectly placed to help.

Hundreds of families in southern Bonner County were advised to evacuate from their homes after the wildfire was first reported Aug. 13 and quickly grew. Of those, at least 12 people found their way to CREC seeking help to deal with the unexpected financial burden.

"In the past two weeks, many of these families have come through our doors," Begalke said. "Tearful, humble, and asking for help. We've done our best to walk alongside them, including two of our own EnVision Center tenants, but the need is greater than we can meet on our own."

Begalke realized it made sense to leverage their email newsletter and social media platforms to inform the community about residents' needs and direct people to the Love in Action Idaho registry for donations.

Within hours of sending a plea to its almost 2,000-person email list, the call to action had been opened by more than 600 people with 73 pledging donations of more than $450. Begalke was thrilled.

"It's really the mission of the EnVision Center to connect, serve and support our community. And so it felt like the obvious thing to do," she said of utilizing the center's resources to launch a campaign to help residents impacted by the fire.

While the center is well-known, many aren't aware of the extent of CREC's ability to connect those in need with the resources needed, whether financial, training or other. She's hoping the email campaign, which has spread on social media and by word of mouth, will reach those who can help — and those in need.

"Every little bit is going to help these families," Begalke said. "We just want them to know that our community cares. I think that a big part of the EnVision Center's job is to let people know that they matter and are being looked after, and there's somebody here to connect them and support them."

While evacuation orders from the Sunset Fire were lifted Aug. 25, almost two weeks after the fire's start, the impact on friends and neighbors, especially residents in the Talache area, is ongoing.

"In this rural community, where savings are often slim, even a short-term evacuation has created a deep financial strain," Begalke said. "Families have returned home to find themselves burdened by unexpected costs for Airbnb stays, food, gas, and other essentials they never planned for."

Begalke said residents can help in three ways: make a financial donation through Love in Action by going to bit.ly/45WB9Ea; provide gift cards for groceries, gas and other essentials by dropping them off at the center, 130 McGhee Road, Suite 220, on the old Coldwater Creek campus; or donate essentials by going to Helping Hands, 530 Pine St.

Those in need of financial assistance should contact Love in Action while those in need of gift cards or essentials should contact either CREC or Helping Hands.

With the success of the campaign, Begalke hopes to create a model for future emergencies so that when crises happen, the center can immediately launch a way for others in the community to help.

Information: Community Resource EnVision Center, crecidaho.com