Let's help Coeur d'Alene together

I have seen more kids and dogs in meetings in the past few days during virtual meetings!! COVID-19 quickly put me in a “Stay at Home” mode this week but it also has been making me feel such empathy for my community. What can we do to help our own neighbors in Coeur d’Alene in real-time?

Even before the first confirmed case in northern Idaho, and before the Coeur d’Alene School District 271 closed schools, I was asked to be part of a group of community leaders and public agency representatives from eight organizations to discuss anticipated needs for the social safety net and a coordinated response to ensure our most vulnerable populations would receive the care they need.

The following four demographics were identified:

Children Pre-K: The total number of children impacted by day care closures in the Coeur d’Alene area is 1,318, and more than 300 childcare workers.

Children K-12: Currently 40 percent of families in the Coeur d’Alene School District qualify for free and reduced lunch; even more are likely to experience food insecurity with loss of jobs.

Hospitality and Service Workers: Idaho’s unemployment rate has jumped 1,200 percent in just a few days. Idaho workers laid off due to the coronavirus filed 13,341 new claims for unemployment insurance benefits during the week of March 15-21, 2020, up 12,310 for a 1,200 percent increase over the previous week.

Vulnerable Seniors: Many of our seniors are more vulnerable at this time because they are advised to self-isolate and their daily lives have been disrupted.

The Coeur d’Alene area is fortunate to have organizations already serving the populations most vulnerable to the economic impact. The partners supporting this initiative include: City of Coeur d’Alene; Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce; Panhandle Health District; United Way of North Idaho; Coeur d’Alene School District 271; CDAIDE; Orchard Ridge Senior Living; and St. Vincent de Paul.

What can we do right now for our community?

We are all asking and wondering what we can do to help. Please join us by donating to the CDA COVID-19 Relief Fund if you want your resources to stay local. I believe in this fund because it is what Coeur d’Alene does best — we step up to take care of our friends, neighbors and businesses. It is more important than ever to support our youth, hospitality/service employees and seniors, so please consider donating.

If you are interested in supporting the CDA COVID-19 Relief Fund, you can do so by giving online at www.CDAcovid.com. Checks may also be mailed to United Way of North Idaho, 501 E. Lakeside Ave., Suite 3, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

The fund will flow through the United Way of North Idaho and then be distributed to other nonprofits to benefit the community. All funds will go to those in need and no administrative fees will be assessed to your donations.

It makes me proud to call Coeur d’Alene home when I see everyone taking the reins to unite and assist those that could use a helping hand. Let us focus our energy on something we can do right now and assist those that are in need in our community.

Most importantly, be safe and take care,

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Heidi Rogers is Chair, Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce.