Activities of the Priest Lake People Helping People, Inc

The Priest Lake People Helping People Charity Auction is held every May as part of the Spring Festival that kicks off our summer season. During the course of the year, many area residents and businesses donate underwriting monies and auction items to be used to raise money at this event for the grant fund.

Grants are awarded after being reviewed by the grant committee and passed by the Priest Lake People Helping People, Inc. Board of Directors. The vision and goal for all grants is to provide additional funding for charitable, educational, and public safety activities. We have awarded monies with utmost respect to the principles established at the inception of the Priest Lake community grant process.

The generous donations and underwriting given by those who love Priest Lake will never be taken for granted. It is an honor to know so many people care so deeply!

1994—2007 Grant History

• 90 grants
• 26 different agencies/groups,
• totaling more than one-quarter million dollars

The funds raised through the Priest Lake People Helping People Auction has been awarded to the following:

• Coolin Community Swim Access
• Church – Youth activities
• Cub Scouts
• Coolin Civic Center
• Priest Lake Ambulance
• Priest Lake Chamber of Commerce
• Priest Lake Day Care
• Priest Lake Disaster Relief
• Priest Lake Elementary School
• Priest Lake Flood Relief
• Priest Lake Kaniksu Lion’s Club
• Phyllis Low Memorial Music Scholarship
• Priest Lake Library
• Priest Lake Museum
• Priest Lake Search and Rescue
• Priest Lake Senior Center
• West Bonner Groomer Committee
• West Priest Lake Fire Department
• University of Idaho – fund PL study
• Unites States Forest Service – Recreation Plan for Priest Lake
• Priest Lake Association – Community planning process
• West Bonner Food Bank
• 911 - American Red Cross
• Bonner County Hospice – Priest Lake Teleconference

If you have always wanted to be a part it is never to late!!
Donations and underwriting monies are accepted year round.

The grants have provided:

The establishment of the Priest Lake Search and Rescue, including equipment to ensure safe rescues and professional training classes for the volunteers. The EMS team at Priest Lake are all volunteer. The grants they applied for have allowed for the purchase of newer onboard equipment, a quick response unit and the necessary equipment for mountain and also ice assistance when an accident or emergency situation is reported via 911. This year with the help of People Helping People grant funds six portable defibrillators where purchased and placed at area resort where training was conducted with resort staff.
Priest Lake Day Care – The day care in our area is vital for the working parents. With the help of grant funds they have been able to improve the quality of the services and setting offered daily by painting, installing storage shelves and new carpet and adding play ground equipment, sod and sand.
Priest Lake Elementary – With the help of art supplies, musical equipment and computers purchased with grant funds from Priest Lake People helping People, Priest Lake teachers are graduating well rounded students who enjoy the day at school and achieve excellent test scores.
Priest Lake Library - The grant fund provided monies that improved the water system to this pubic building, which offers a historical location, reading material for all and internet and computer service to our residents year round.
Coolin Civic Center - This building, with the grants they have received, can now provide a safe location for our community as our disaster relief center in Coolin, Idaho. Blankets, canned goods, generator service with an overall inspection of the wiring and year round access was required to making this happen.

Over the years grants have been given for: September 11 Fund, Idaho Red Cross, sandbags to protect homes during flooding, purchasing of tents for the community to use during the year, additional funding for blood drives, hearing and monograms screenings for the local community.

The support of Priest Lake People Helping People whose funds help improve the quality of lives and services for all of the community, including non-profit organizations, summer residents and tourists has allowed Priest Lake to be Idaho’s Crown Jewel.

Click here to request Grant Forms from PLPHP