Local non-profits raise money

Eastern Idaho Technical College hosted this years Alternative Giving Fair, years prior the fair was housed at the Elks Lodge in Idaho Falls.

Thirty-one local non-profits gathered all under one roof at this years Alternative Giving Fair, each non-profit showcasing how they contribute to the community.

Last years event raised a little over $24,000, the money went back into the community. This year some new non-profits made their way in.

The Center for Hope in Idaho Falls opened up this last September and came to the event to establish relationships with the other organizations.

The Center for Hope’s Director Sandy Baiocco said you never know when you’ll need the help from a non-profit.

“People should care about non-profits because you’ll never know when it might be you or your family that is struggling. So you might be in a good situation and you don’t need help. But if your house were to burn down or maybe you loose your medical insurance or you can’t pay for your medical prescriptions there are agencies in this room right now doing work to make sure our community has those resources,” Baiocco said.

Executive Director for the ITECH Foundation Natalie Hebard said she has a heart for all the non-profits in the area.

“We want to make sure everybody has a place to come and learn about resources we have available. And we want to let those people who have a giving heart learn where they can help,” Hebard said.

Hebard said they used Facebook and word of mouth to let people know that the fair would be moved to Eastern Idaho Technical College.

“We have non-profits here that help people, animals and students. We have the community food basket, Meals on Wheels, and the Humanitarian Center, we have so many more organizations it’s hard to name them all,”Hebard said.

Heberd adds,”We have gotten a verbal confirmation that the college will support this event again.”