Four Whitman County organizations receive grants

COLFAX — Four organizations in Whitman County received grants from the Innovia Foundation, which has awarded $1,187,600 in grants to 127 organizations in Eastern Washington and North Idaho through the Community Grants Program.

The Pine Creek Long Term Recovery Organization (PCLTRO) received a $10,000 grant to manage donor funds designated for long-term recovery efforts to ensure the organization can continue rebuilding lives and livelihoods in Pine Creek.

A $5,000 grant was awarded to Friends of Whitman County Library to provide for programming bringing people together across the 14 rural communities in the county.

Funding supports family programs, meals, and gatherings in each community.

Whitman County Library Director Cody Allen stated the grant would help with summer reading programs.

Allen explained that anyone who donates to the Friends of Whitman County Library supports library programs.

Allen shared that the funds are going towards a couple of barbecues, Farmington and Malden. CPA first education course Garfield, and a Palouse science center program.

“We want to thank Innovia for the support and the friends of the library,” Allen said, “We’re thankful to have these two great organizations help out, and we’re excited to share these programs with Whitman County.”

The Peace Lutheran Church received a $5,000 grant for architecture and Engineering fees, and St. James Episcopal Church received $2,500 for its backpack food program and food for families.

Pastor at Peace Lutheran, Ian McMichael, stated they had applied for the grant while working towards their community childcare initiatives.

McMichael stated that he had written a letter to the Innovia Foundation to transfer the funds to the Colfax Downtown Association to pursue a new avenue in childcare.