BY MIKE MCKENNA
The good thing about hard times is that they often bring out the best in people. The Blaine County Charitable Fund is just such an example.
When the COVID crisis hit Blaine County, lots of folks were struggling and didn’t know where to turn for help. A small group of locals got together to try to figure out what they could do to help with the challenges facing our community.
While Blaine County is blessed with numerous nonprofits, the group realized that we were lacking a community financial assistance fund — the kind you can find in other ski towns like Aspen and Jackson Hole. Once they figured out their path to help, the Blaine County Charitable Fund hit the ground running.
“We needed broad coverage so that we could help the entire community,” Mary Fauth said. “Within a couple weeks we were rolling, thanks to the help of lots of local nonprofits.”
Mary worked full time as a volunteer for the first six months and became the executive director once the nonprofit became official. BCCF’s founding board consists of Kevin Jones, Daryl Fauth, Sheila Moriarty, Herbert Romero, Penny Thayer and Steve Thompson, with guidance and support from Lynn Campion. They created a nonprofit that began to show its impact in no time flat.
By April of 2020, BCCF started allocating funds to people in need. Their applications then began doubling every week for months. Rent assistance was the biggest need then and is still part of what BCCF can help with, which includes security deposits and a Rapid Relief Fund for unexpected challenging expenses.
“One of the great things about our organization is that we can pivot quickly and be really nimble with how we can help,” Mary said. “We were founded because of the crisis, but we are clearly needed in our community post-COVID.”
In just a few years, the BCCF has already helped hundreds of locals get through everything from the global pandemic to the Limelight condos fire.
“We’re trying to find the gaps in our community where people need assistance,” Mary said. “We have great collaboration of resources and knowledge with our local nonprofits and other leaders, so we can have creative responses to our community’s needs.”
As the stats show, nearly half of our community is one crisis or challenge away from major issues with housing, food and healthcare. It’s really important to have folks like the BCCF here for us.
“Every year we’re finding more and more ways to help support the people we want to be able to live and work in our community,” Mary said. “We’re trying to make sure those people who feel invisible in our community are seen and heard and helped.”
Even though COVID was tough, it helped inspire some locals to prove that Margaret Mead was right: “A small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”
To help or find out more, go to BlaineCF.org or come to the February Business After Hours (BAH) on Thursday, February 15 from 5-7 p.m. at the BCCF offices in the Meriwether Building, 111 N. 1st Ave. in Hailey.