Rachel Grady's community of love
Editor’s note: Twice each week, The Press shines a light on the life of interesting locals active in the community. Up today:
Meet Rachel Grady, an outdoor enthusiast, coffee lover and lifelong learner. You can most often find Rachel with her family outside hiking, camping through national parks, gardening or doing almost any sport. Rachel and her husband, Shane, moved to Coeur d’Alene from Portland in 2006 and love all the outdoor opportunities North Idaho has to offer.
Generation: Right on the cusp between Gen X and millennial.
Career and community involvement: I have been blessed to be involved in many programs that touch on many of my passions. I was involved in starting the Kootenai Health Family Medicine Residency program, blending education and healthcare; in training serve teams as part of the launch of Love INC of Kootenai County; and now working with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Marimn Health in healthcare and social program development.
Parental status: My two children, Drew and Abby, are lights of my life. I am blessed beyond belief to have the opportunity to watch these two incredible little people grow into all God has created them to be.
1. Exactly what is Love INC, and what motivated you to found it in Kootenai County? Love INC is an organization that brings best practices from around the nation to affiliates in support of local churches to serve in holistic ways. Each Love INC is uniquely suited to identify needs, coordinate resources, recognize gaps in services and bring together trained volunteers to serve in ways that transform. Kootenai County has so many incredible people doing great work and Love INC volunteers know about these programs and can coordinate the multiple needs of an individual or family over many weeks or months.
2. How does a community benefit when organizations and churches work together? By working together we are able to do more, reduce redundancy and serve the deeper needs of individuals. No one person or one organization can do all things, but using our unique gifts, each of us can work together to meet needs around us every day.
3. Why should we help other people? All of us have areas of need, be it relational, spiritual, physical or emotional. In answering, “Who would you call in a crisis?,” many people do not have a community they can rely on in times of need, which leads to hopelessness and more isolation. When we learn how to respond to others with redemptive compassion, giving a hand up instead of a hand out, we create a community that shares hope, love and generosity across all ages, social and economic demographics.
4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Growing up I trained in Kung Fu for many years.
5. What is your favorite season? My favorite season is spring, with new birth and new starts. In early February we start our small green house in the dining room to extend our short North Idaho springs.