Chamber Honors Bonner County Gardeners Association

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize the Bonner County Gardner’s Association (BCGA) as the April Business of the Month. They provide research based Home Horticultural Educational Programs, Community Service and assist in Beautification Projects for our surrounding communities.

The BCGA does a lot to support local groups and causes. They assist with school gardens and donated the new bench to Farmin’ Park. They’ve also assisted in the beautifying efforts at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, flower baskets for downtown Sandpoint, landscaping the Mickinick Trail and the Water Life Discovery Center.

Watch the BCGA accept their award, click here >>

The BCGA also holds and attends many different educational classes and outreach events including the Fall Home Hort Series, Spring Plant Sale, Garden Tours, Home and Garden Show, Farmers’ Market and many others.

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Bonner County Gardeners Association for their success and thanking them for their commitment to our community. For more information, call them at 265-2070, email them at bcga2013@hotmail.com or go to www.bcgardeners.org.

In photo: left to right, Carol Warren and Janae Dale.

Chamber Honors Sandpoint Senior Center

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Sandpoint Senior Center as February’s Business/Non-profit of the Month.

“This month, I have the honor of recognizing a business that goes above and beyond for the seniors in our community,” said Ken Wood, Chamber Ambassador and the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce’s Chair-elect announced the attendees of the Chamber’s February General Membership Luncheon.

There’s an enormous amount of pride the staff of 15 puts into the business. Last year, the Senior Center delivered over 15,000 meals to local seniors in our area. These meals are delivered Monday-Friday using an all-volunteer effort. It should be noted, many of the seniors they deliver to would not receive quality daily meals if it was not for the efforts of the Senior Center.

In addition to the Meals on Wheels program, they served more than 10,000 meals at their physical location. Those who attend or frequent the Senior Center are able to socialize and develop friendships, as well as participate in activities like bingo and billiards.

Another large focus for the Senior Center has been the Daybreak Center. This center provides relief for caregivers that are dealing with people who have dementia, Alzheimer’s and other types of aging medical issues.

“They truly care about our local seniors,” Ken Wood went on to explain.

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Sandpoint Senior Center for their success and thanking them for their commitment to our community. For more information, call them at 208-263-6860 or stop by the Senior Center at 820 Main Street.

Chamber Recognizes Kiwanis Club as April’s Business of the Month

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recognizes Kiwanis Club as April’s Business of the Month. Kiwanis Clubs motto is “Serving the Children of the World”. This year Kiwanis International won a Blue Ribbon at the Rose Parade for their Float titled, “A Childs Magic Carpet Ride.”

Watch them accept there award, click here.

Kiwanis Club in Sandpoint has been serving youth of our community since their beginning. Things the Kiwanis Club sponsors or supports currently or in the past includes the Key Club at the high school, scholarships, Boy Scouts, Camp Stidwell Bonner County Fair, Kinderhaven and the Backpack Program in the schools.

‘When Boy Scout Troop #111 was in need of a sponsor, Kiwanis stepped up to the plate and to this day sponsors that same troop,’ explained Kiwanis Club Member Dick Vail. ‘Kiwanis owns about 2,000 acres of land around the lower end of Mirror Lake. The facility is called “Camp Stidwell”. The resident, Kiwanian caretaker, stated that last year over 1,600 young people took advantages of the facilities at Camp Stidwell.’

In order to make these items happen, Kiwanis has their own fundraising activities that include selling of Cotton Candy at major events, as well as selling raffle tickets for a pig, selected at the Bonner County Fair, and tickets for other worthwhile causes. When you see someone from Kiwanis selling cotton candy, a raffle ticket for a pig, or an award card to be cashed in at a store of your choice, they hope you look at it as an investment in the youth and young people of Bonner County.

‘It takes a number of various working organizations to make up a whole vital body,’ said Vail. ‘Kiwanis is pleased and proud to be part of the body that makes up a great place to live, work, and raise children.’

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Kiwanis Club in being honored as April’s Business of the Month. For more information or to reach out to them, call 208-255-6645.

Chamber Honors Panhandle Building Contractors Association

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize the Panhandle Building Contractors Association (PBCA) as the November Business of the Month. The PBCA was established in our area more than 20 years ago and stands today 43 members strong. They countlessly give their time and talents to the community and for that this honor is bestowed on this wonderful organization.

With more than 40 members, the PBCA does big work in fundraising for the Panhandle Habitat for Humanity, working with Kinderhaven and supporting the High School Carpenters. The Chamber has been one of the PBCA’s more recent charitable causes as the association set to assist the Chamber with the renovation of the old Sand Creek location. After lots of hard work from many of their members, the Sand Creek Location is set to be the Chamber’s headquarters once again before the first of the new year.

The PBCA’s largest fundraiser is the Home and Garden Show, which will take place again April 13-14 of 2013. Scott Shriber, PBCA President, explained that the Home and Garden Show gets bigger and better every year and continues to evolve. This year you can expect more vendors and even more services covered at this wonderful community event.

“It was our goal to be more community oriented [this last year]. We were excited to revitalize the new Chamber Location,” explained Scott. “It was our honor to assist putting the Chamber building back together.”

Starting next fall, they are planning a new fundraiser to help benefit the Panhandle Habitat for Humanity. It will be a ‘Gun Wild Night’ where wonderful firearms will be auctioned off for this great cause.

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Panhandle Building Contractors Association for their success and thanking them for their commitment to our community. For more information, visit them at www.northidahocontractors.com or call 263-4967.

Belinda Seher and Scott Shriber accept the Business of the Month at the November General Membership Luncheon.

Chamber Honors Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity as October’s Business of the Month. President Tom Harvill, President of the Board of Directors, was present at the Chamber’s Economic Summit on October 11 to accept the honors on behalf of the organization.

Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which is a nonprofit Ecumenical Christian Housing organization. Their focus and mission is to partner with families, sponsors, faith groups, and local businesses to provide decent affordable housing for families in need. They also operate the ReStore, located at 1424 North Boyer Ave. Donations can be dropped off Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 pm. The restore will be moving to a new location on Baldy Rd. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 1191.

In 1991, Mike Schissler, while building homes in Mexico on a mission for his church, decided that when he returned home to Sandpoint he was going to start a program that builds homes for low-income families. He founded the Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity and two years later, the first Habitat home was built. Mike passed away from a long fight with cancer. Homes are being built at Schissler Meadows in Kootenai in dedication to their founder.

Currently, the 15th home is being completed. In order to apply, families must apply for a home and make approximately $25,000-30,000 per year to pay the mortgage. When chosen for a home, a single person must put in “300 sweat equity hours”, and a married couple must put in “500 sweat equity hours”. Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity has also funded 24 homes in developing countries in the past years.

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Idaho Panhandle Habitat for Humanity for their success and thanking them for their commitment to our community. For more information, visit them at the ReStore, 1424 North Boyer Ave, email them at info@iphfh.org or call them at (208) 265-5313.

In Photo: Tom Harvill accepts the award from Chamber Ambassador Carol Warren.