The Afternoon of Hope luncheon at the Center for Women & Children in Coeur d’Alene featured what at first glance might seem like a rather unusual partnership – UGM and local government. Upon further inspection, however, maybe it’s not as unusual as it seems.
“Once you realize what they do here, how could you not support this place? The turning around of lives – taking people who we deal with professionally and turning them around to become productive citizens – what a difference that makes to the people here in Kootenai County. And one of the beautiful things is there’s no tax dollars! People have got to love that. UGM is really filling a gap that has existed in this community for a long time." -Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
County Commissioner Dan Green agreed: “For me, as an elected official, the exciting thing is that government is not involved. This is all about the community, private donations, God’s grace and how God uses all of us –including myself – to impact the program as a whole and specifically Chantell. Coming in as county commissioner, I make decisions that impact a lot of people, but the really rewarding ones are where you get to impact people on an individual basis.”
Chantell White, a graduate of the LIFE Recovery program, shared her personal journey, including a business practicum with the Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management, at the luncheon. (For more of Chantell’s story, please see the UGM blog.)
Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer echoed the sheriff and the commissioner: "When we met Chantell and heard her story and how UGM had changed her life - in many ways, SAVED her life - we became champions of the Union Gospel Mission. I hope you will become a friend of UGM, as well. Hope starts here."
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By the Honorable John T. Mitchell, District Judge, Kootenai County, Idaho
