Health and Wellbeing - Innovia Foundation

Northport Community Preservation and Restoration: Reclaiming Waste, Restoring Hope

“Crisis is not too harsh a word to describe the problem of inadequate housing here at home,” says Mark Harding, president of Northport Community Preservation and Restoration (NCPR), located in Stevens County, Washington. Inadequate housing and waste stockpiling are two critical problems facing members of the Northport community. Thanks to NCPR’s ingenuity coupled with a […]

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Michael Conley Fund: Committing to Social Justice

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Michael Wayne Conley, a longstanding Spokane community member and small business owner, has always cared deeply about making the region a better place. As the longtime owner of North Division Bicycle Shop and the son of the founder of the iconic White Elephant stores, Michael’s roots in Spokane run deep. When faced with a terminal

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Idaho Foodbank: Feeding North Idaho

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During a pandemic, much of the focus shifts to cities with denser populations, but smaller communities also suffer in ways that are unique from their larger counterparts. During a national food shortage, food access can be especially tenuous in remote locations. With a population of just 94, White Bird, Idaho is one of dozens of

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NAMI Far North: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

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The stress and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has left many in need of mental health support. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Far North seeks to raise awareness about mental health needs and to support those in Bonner and Boundary counties who find their lives disrupted by mental health challenges. A $5,000 grant

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Community Action Center: Shelter in the Storm

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In a city where university students are critical to the economy and rental properties constitute 65% of total housing, the pandemic quickly created an affordable housing crisis for many Pullman residents. Thanks to a $10,000 COVID-19 Response and Recovery grant from Innovia, the Community Action Center was able to support a Housing Solutions Program that

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Big Table Responds to Pandemic Needs

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Quality service is service with a smile. This foundational principle of the restaurant and hospitality industry has become increasingly difficult to uphold for the thousands of workers facing COVID-fueled job cuts and health worries. As a former chef in the restaurant industry and the current Spokane director for Big Table, Chris Dietz knows the pressure workers face all too well: “If that smile goes away, so does the money. It’s

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Programs at the Ray & Joan Kroc Center ensure families have a safe place to belong and grow during crisis

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The Ray & Joan Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene adheres to the mission of founder Joan Kroc. She entrusted The Salvation Army with $90 million to build the first Kroc Center in San Diego in 2002, and there are now 26 centers across the country built on her eventual $1.5 billion investment. Joan envisioned that

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Coalition develops fund to address domestic violence rates in Spokane County

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Spokane County has the highest rates of domestic violence in the state of Washington. The Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition has fought this phenomenon since the early 1990s, partnering with community agencies and thoughtful citizens from a variety of sectors. The coalition strives to educate the public and catalyze a communal effort against domestic violence,

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Happy Horizons Childcare grant ensures the wellbeing of children and parents coping with the crisis

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Even with steady employment, many families are challenged to provide basic necessities. Single parents spend, on average, 36% of their income on childcare, and that often does not leave enough to pay the bills or buy nutritious food, especially for those living paycheck-to-paycheck. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely exacerbated these needs. Happy Horizons Childcare in

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Big Table and CDAIDE provide safety net for hospitality workers

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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and hotels had the highest nationwide concentration of those most in need. Now, hospitality and gig economy workers are under even more stress, facing unprecedented financial obstacles. Restaurants and hotels closed overnight, and most workers have no immediate way to make up these lost wages. Those who retain part-time

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