Help us reach our goal of $300,000 by year's end!
In the Wood River Valley, we are fortunate to live in a place where natural beauty, community connection, and rich experiences abound. We are a tight-knit community that, when faced with struggle, always rises to meet the challenge. This spirit of generosity is evident in how we support each other when times are tough—even if the difficulty is not always visible to those of us going about our daily lives.
This past winter, as low snow levels led to significant job losses and reduction of income for many in our community, we saw the impact of this invisible crisis. Last summer requests for assistance tripled compared to previous years. Households having to acquire new housing were hit with costs they couldn’t manage such as security deposits and last month’s rent. People came to the Blaine County Charitable Fund (BCCF) seeking assistance to cover these or other critical expenses.
BCCF is the safety net our community needs and now turns to. Thanks to the support of generous donors like you, we have been able to help every single person in need thus far.
We are grateful that we could be there each time someone was struggling in 2024. Now facing 2025 and a new season of leadership in our country, there is great potential for other layers of the safety net, like the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Programs (SNAP & WIC), will be more difficult to access, further impacting the most vulnerable in our community.
Change is inevitable, but our values never change.
At BCCF, we don’t wait for a crisis to spiral out of control. While our colleagues in similar mountain resort communities have been forced to restrict assistance, we take a proactive approach. We provide relief before the stress and anxiety of eviction notices set in, helping families avoid a downward spiral. We are creating and implementing more resources, like childcare and downpayment assistance. For those living paycheck to paycheck, a small cushion of support can make a huge difference—not just in paying bills, but in restoring hope.
As we look toward the year ahead, we are committed to meeting the increasing demand for emergency assistance—and we hope to approach 2025 with the confidence that no one in crisis will be turned away.
Last year we were able to raise $192,000 during this year end giving time. Can you help us to exceed this benchmark so we can confidently meet the need in 2025? Your support will help us continue providing essential assistance to struggling households in our community.
Your support has already shown how much you care for our community. As we near the end of 2024 will you consider being a partner with us in supporting our community with a year end gift? To inspire early giving this year, a matching gift of $57,000 from two very generous and anonymous individuals will insure your gift will have double the impact!
Here’s how your gift when DOUBLED can make a difference:
- $50 Fills TWO tanks of gas
- $100 Powers TWO homes for a month
- $250 Provides a temporary stay at a hotel for TWO otherwise homeless individuals
- $500 Warms TWO homes for the winter
- $1,200 Covers childcare or medical costs during a critical time of need for TWO households in crisis
- $2,500 Helps with move in costs for a new home for TWO families
With your help, we can ensure that the Wood River Valley remains a place where people don’t just survive—they thrive, even in the face of hardship.
On behalf of the entire BCCF team—including Maira Conlago and Elizabeth Sandoval—I thank you for your continued generosity and partnership. Together, we can make sure that no one in our community faces hardship alone.
In gratitude,
Mary Fauth, Co-Founder/Executive Director
Blaine County Charitable Fund
p.s. Like one BCCF board member elected to take elected to do, households aged 73 or older may consider donating from their IRA’s required minimum distribution. Please consult a financial advisor to see if this tax advantaged strategy might work for you.