Courtesy of a local organization that supports local nonprofits in the county, the Priest River Food Bank was awarded an $11,000 grant to install necessary infrastructure in its building.  

While accepting the check from 101 Women, Priest River Food Bank found out that a generous donor had matched the grant amount.  

The grant will help fund the establishment of critical sewer infrastructure before the first phase of its garage/storage building can be built in the fall. The food bank will be able to fully install a sewer pressure line and a gravity sewer line to the building at its new Priest River site.  

“A permanent, purpose-built facility is essential to expanding their capacity and ensuring reliable year-round service to food-insecure neighbors. Currently, they share a very small space with a local thrift store,” 101 Women officials said about the food bank.  

101 Women is known for awarding large grants to Bonner County nonprofits twice a year, providing a simple way for women to unite and create power in numbers for giving to local organizations, according to the nonprofit.  

“Membership involves a $225 donation with a commitment to two events annually. Each member gets one vote per event, helping distribute $22,000 into the local community every year,” said 101 Women officials. 

Each grant cycle, 101 Women hosts an event where three local organizations present their mission and funding needs to the organization. After the groups' presentations conclude, members of the women’s group cast their votes for the nonprofit they believe should be awarded the grant. The organization with the most votes receives the $11,000 donation.  

Grant cycles are broken into summer and winter and focus on separate nonprofit niches — nonprofits providing basic services and nonprofits providing arts, education, recreational and environmental services to the community, respectively.  

This spring cycle, the three finalists of the grant were Priest Lake Food Bank (winner), Better Together Animal Alliance and Community Resource EnVision Center.