Calling May DIRT Clods:

United Way’s DIRT team (direct impact response team, known for its fast and dirty good deeds that take place over a lunch hour every month, and go where few volunteers are brave enough to go) takes on an interesting task in May.

Sustainable Futures is a nonprofit organization that provides vocational training in green collar jobs through a cooperative effort with area businesses and the Idaho Department of Corrections.

Women who are incarcerated, get training to repurpose empty bottles from area restaurants and wineries — and make them into new glassware.

The glassware gets sold back to the business or sold in retail outlets to support the program. It’s a win-win situation, since it keeps usable glass out of the trash, and provides training and work experience to women who need a hand up.

Recently, Sustainable Futures received a very large (1,500) delivery of empty bottles from an area winery.
The group needs help removing paper labels from the bottles to prep them for their transformation.

Can you help scrape labels? DIRT needs you. Noon-1 p.m., Thursday, May 28, Noon-1PM

Sign up online here. 

Women’s and Children’s Alliance secures its future

To ensure its operations have a sustainable future, the WCA has a new fund, and can accept gifts of real or personal property, stocks, life insurance proceeds and certain trusts or annuity contracts.

The WCA will not begin to receive distributions from the fund until July 1, 2012 or until the fund reaches $1 million.

The WCA’s Hope Society fund helps pay for current operating expenses. Those who give or pledge $1000 or more for five years become Hope Society members. 

Dr. Larry Knight, a retired physician, and his wife, Kaye Knight, a WCA board member, were among the first major donors to the Hope Society. As they approach the end of their five-year cycle with the Hope Society, they have decided to increase their contribution five-fold, with the additional amount going to the endowment fund. 

“As a doctor I saw the effects domestic violence had on both women and children,” said Larry Knight.  “Supporting the WCA is one way my wife and I can help overcome the effects of domestic violence.”

The Knights are encouraging all Hope Society members to increase their pledges and begin contributing to the endowment fund. 

For more, visit the WCA website.

The Women’s and Children’s Alliance is located at 720 W. Washington. The organization operates secure shelters and transitional homes, and provides professional counseling, legal advocacy, outreach and crisis services to women and children.

Children’s Home Society names new board members

Mark Houston, Gary Morton, and Brian Doster will join the organization’s board.

Houston is a vice president and regional manager with Bank of the West. Morton spent 20 years in the Treasury Department at Albertsons/Supervalu. Doster is a partner with the Boise-based accounting firm Little-Morris.