POST FALLS — When Executive Director Theresa Hart walked outside Newby-ginnings of North Idaho on Tuesday afternoon, she had no idea what was waiting for her on the other side of the door. 

“No way,” she shouted as a giant $25,000 check was presented to the veteran nonprofit by Nicole Burke of First Interstate Bank, who nominated the agency. 

“You do such great work for the community,” Burke said. “As part of Believe in Local, First Interstate donates $25,000 to 40 different nonprofit organizations throughout the state and Newby-ginnings was chosen.” 

Staff from First Interstate hid from view in the parking lot with balloons until it was time to greet Hart with the good news. 

Newby-ginnings serves North Idaho by providing resources, referrals and essential personal and household items to veterans, active military and their families.  

“A call would have been nice,” Hart quipped. “I’m very overwhelmed.” 

The check came in the nick of time for the agency, as big changes are on the horizon. 

“We are actually getting ready to move into a new building twice our current size in Post Falls, so this is going to help a lot,” Hart said. 

“My dream has been having a community center. We’ll have offices for community partners who want to be where the veterans are and find services on site,” Hart said. 

Clientele at Newby-ginnings is growing quickly, and the larger space would provide more room for veteran services.

Newby-ginnings was established in October 2013 after Hart's son, Army SPC Nicholas Newby, was killed in action July 7, 2011, during service in Iraq. 

Newby-ginnings has served over 6,600 individuals and families since it opened and has been in its current location since 2016.

Previous recipients of the Believe in Local grant include Family Promise of North Idaho, Canopy Village, CDA Backpack Program Inc. and Northwest Infant Survival Alliance SIDS Foundation.

"It really is perfect timing,” Hart said.

    First Interstate Bank employees present Executive Director Theresa Hart of Newby-ginnings of North Idaho with a check for $25,000 outside the nonprofit's office in Post Falls. The money comes from the Believe in Local grant campaign and will help the organization make the move to its new bigger location in the near future. Front row from left: Carolyn Deitz, Nicole Burke, Nadeen Hayes and Theresa Hart. Back row: Rana Cantrell, Jake Koski, Corrin Wallace, Erik Lee and Kyle Marshall.