Building connections and strengthening Bonner County
By Like Media Team
The Community Resource EnVision Center serves Bonner County by connecting individuals in crisis with essential resources and supporting nonprofits' growth. Through collaboration and a commitment to community impact, the center fosters meaningful change and builds stronger connections throughout the region.
Q. Can you share a brief overview of the Community Resource EnVision Center and its mission?
A. Since 2010, The Community Resource EnVision Center has connected clients in need to the people, places, and programs that help them overcome the obstacles they are facing.
At the Community Resource EnVision Center, we believe no one should face a crisis alone and are here to provide support when urgent needs arise. Our dedicated team assists individuals in finding resources, connecting with nonprofits, and identifying skilled community members who can help.
Q. What inspired you to become involved with the Community Resource EnVision Center, and what has your journey as Executive Director been like so far?
A. When I moved to Sandpoint in 2017, I was fleeing an abusive marriage and didn’t know what to expect. I found an incredible community that welcomed me with open arms and provided life-saving and inspiring resources. After getting my feet on the ground, I knew I wanted to help others who also needed help overcoming life’s unexpected challenges. I started a nonprofit called Return Retreats, joined leadership Sandpoint, and eventually started working at the EnVision Center.
In 2023, I became the EnVision Centers Executive Director and quickly learned that this role requires wearing many hats. From leadership to fundraising and marketing to accounting, there isn’t an area in which you aren’t involved. Naturally, this isn’t unique to me; leaders of small nonprofits across the county experience the same thing. Developing efficiencies that optimize resources and collectively maximize community impact excites me most about this job.
Q. What key programs and services does the Center offer, and how do they impact the local community?
A. Our leading service is provided by our Resource Specialist, who sits with clients struggling to make ends meet, listens empathetically to their stories and connects them to a network of people, places, and programs.
We also host quarterly SPIN (Service Provider Information Network) meetings to foster collaboration among local nonprofits and are developing the Amplifying Voices Podcast Studio to give community partners a platform to share how they are positively impacting the community. Both these efforts ladder up to our work to create a physical nonprofit hub here in Bonner County.
Q. What challenges does the Center face in providing resources and services, and how do you approach overcoming them?
A. Sometimes, clients don’t qualify for existing programs due to eligibility criteria, leaving them without help. This is an ongoing challenge because many individuals in need fall into this “gap” where they don’t meet the specific qualifications for assistance but still struggle to get by.
To address this, we’ve worked to build partnerships, like our collaboration with Angels Over Sandpoint. By pooling resources and working together, we can fill in the gaps and provide solutions that traditional programs cannot. This approach allows us to adapt to the community's needs, ensuring clients have somewhere to turn, even when standard options are unavailable.
Q. How can individuals, businesses, or organizations in the community support your mission?
A. The most significant way to support our mission is to ensure that anyone in need knows about us. If you encounter someone struggling, please direct them to our website (CRECidaho.com), phone line (208.920.1840), or office at 130 McGhee Rd.—suite 220. Being a point of connection can make a world of difference.
Additionally, we encourage community members to participate in our events throughout the year. From SPIN meetings to our annual golf tournament and the Festival of Trees Gala, these events support our work financially and raise awareness about the importance of community resources. Volunteering or sponsoring events is another way to help, as is joining us for our weekday volunteer program, where you can work directly with our team to support those in need.
Q. What role does collaboration with other local organizations play in achieving your goals, and can you provide an example of a partnership that’s made a significant difference?
A. Collaboration is everything. Without our network of partners, we couldn’t connect clients with the resources they need. We see ourselves as a bridge, linking people in crisis to the organizations that can provide support.
Our SPIN meetings are a prime example of how collaboration enhances our work. These meetings bring together service providers. One notable meeting focused on veteran services, where providers who had only heard of each other finally met face-to-face. This strengthened their relationships and improved their ability to support veterans in our community.
Q. What are your goals for the Center in the next few years?
A. Our biggest goal is to establish a physical nonprofit hub that brings service providers together under one roof. This hub would be a central location where individuals can access everything from food and childcare to healthcare and financial support. This concept would streamline services, optimize resources, and foster collaboration among organizations.
We’ve already tested this idea with our 10,000-square-foot shared space, which currently hosts eight nonprofit partners. The success of this model has inspired us to expand. Moving forward, we aim to make this dream a reality, creating a centralized hub that will become the heartbeat of our community’s nonprofit sector.
Q. Anything else not mentioned above that you'd like to share with readers?
A. We’re excited to invite community members to join us for Wednesday evening cocktail hours throughout January and February. These gatherings are an opportunity to learn more about our vision for a nonprofit hub and to connect with others who share a passion for community impact.
If you’re interested in attending, email Katie@CRECidaho.com. We’d love to have you join us on this journey as we work together to build a stronger, more connected Bonner County.
Community Resource EnVision Center
130 McGhee Rd., Suite 200
Sandpoint, ID
208.920.1840
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