Avista awards over $200K in grants for local nonprofits

April 27, 2020 11:30 AM

Connor Sarles,

Posted: April 27, 2020 11:30 AM

Updated: April 27, 2020 11:35 AM

by Connor Sarles

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SPOKANE, Wash. — The Avista Foundation has approved new grants to support local nonprofits, totaling to nearly $250,000 between United Way and 45 food pantries throughout the Inland Northwest.

According to Avista, this round of grant money will provide $129,000 for United Way, and $100,000 will be distributed across other community agencies in Avista’s service area.

“Various organizations that provide food and other services are seeing a growing demand beyond what they would normally see this time of year,” said Dennis Vermillion, Avista president and CEO. “We want to respond as quickly as possible to help meet these most pressing needs.”

Avista says this donation comes as many agencies are facing a high demand for services, as well as high costs for sanitization and PPE in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Current circumstances have made it even more difficult for a growing number of families to meet their basic need for food,” said Lisa Stoddard, executive director of Community Action Partnership in Lewiston, Idaho. “Food bank resources are stretched to their limits, and we are so grateful to Avista, one of our greatest supporters and most valuable community partners, for stepping up and making a donation that will help us address this need.”