Since 2010, the Idaho Falls Humanitarian Center has been helping other nonprofits and charity organizations in eastern Idaho grow and distribute supplies to people most in need. However, the supplies have been running low recently and they need more donations of items like laundry soap, diapers, wet wipes and more.
Betsy Schultz is the community service director for the nonprofit. She says they can get a call from organizations at any time.
“One night we got a call, I think it was about eight o'clock at night, and this family who lived in Idaho Falls had just had a granddaughter that was displaced and they were going to have to take her in,” she said. “And they had other grandchildren there too, but they didn't have bedding. So, we went through a social worker who called us and asked us if we could do this, and we brought a brand-new quilt for her to be able to be comfortable that night. “And so, it's really rewarding when there's emergencies like that, that we can help them out. It gives you a good feeling.”
The Humanitarian Center helps about 120-130 agencies from Pocatello to St. Anthony and everywhere in between. They do not take food donations, but they take general and basic hygiene supplies, like toothpaste, soaps, linens, diapers and more.
“Our job is to put together the orders and provide in connection with all the agents so that they have this stuff at their disposal,” said Eric Schultz, the community assistant director of the nonprofit. “And I guess the biggest issue that that personally that I have to deal with is we usually have a very limited supply of, say for example, laundry soap. And so, the orders come in and people need this laundry soap. And I have to decide who gets it and how many because I don't have enough to go around.”
The Humanitarian Center is always accepting volunteers and supply drives. The Schultzes say they are more than willing to work with church and government organizations to help others out. You can find out more, volunteer and even organize donation drives at their website.