Boise Gives Back

BOISE

GIVES BACK

BY ARIANNA CRETEAU

Employees from Idaho Power participate in a volunteer workday. / Courtesy Land Trust of the Treasure Valley

Whether you’re a lifelong Idahoan or among the newly inducted, you probably know that people here are pretty great. Rarely will your average resident leave the door closed in front of you or throw that piece of trash out of the window. We’re giving of our resources, money, and yes, even our hours. Offer up your time

The Land Trust of the Treasure Val-

ley is heavily involved and busy preserving land within and around the Treasure Valley. Founded in 1996 with the promise to protect habitats and educate locals about farming, ranching, the foothills, and more, LTTV is a unique and valuable resource for agriculture land owners and outdoor lovers in southwest Idaho. By working with private landowners to find permanent land conservation opportunities, Executive Director Eric Grace says the organization strives to protect the qualities that are actually inspiring a lot of people to move here.

“We are a small organization that relies on the community for support,” Grace says. “Land, they’re not making any more of it.”

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I think the most striking thing is that people give more than they take. It’s almost difficult to get rid of seeds because people are so generous here.

Show a little kindness

Next time you capture a sweet moment in Boise and share it on social media, consider commemorating it with #BoiseKind. The hashtag provides a space for people to tell stories and share local spots that you might want to visit.

Stephanie Coates, co-founder of the North End Little Seed Library, started using #BoiseKind on the library’s Instagram posts because she felt it worked well for their project and highlighted something free, fun, and giving for the community.

“I think the most striking thing is that people give more than they take,” says Coates. “It’s almost difficult to get rid of seeds because people are so generous here.”

And not just generous–creative too. In the Facebook group Boise “Rocks!”over 12,000 members create, hide, and share photos of painted rocks. For a group about rocks, it’s doing a lot to make a space for one-onone acts of kindness, perhaps a rare gem on the internet. But once you find or make that space for yourself, it’s easy to get started.

If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than your neighbors. It’s one thing to be a nice person or a nice place, but then there’s Boise Nice. It’s a phrase used to describe the remarkable impact that the city of Boise and the people of Boise have on one another.

The Boise Nice Project was founded in early 2021 to identify, preserve, and enhance what makes living in Boise special.

“It’s a fun thing to do and people want to be a part of it. The whole point is that our organization isn’t doing anything. Our organization is organizing and inspiring people who live here to do something for themselves,” says Rourke O’Brien, president and co-founder of the Boise Nice Project.

A survey from Boise State professor Dr. Jack Marr and the Boise Nice Project found that many people agree, yes, Boise is nice!

“The stories of nice that people had just seemed endless. It was all genuine,” says O’Brien. Over time, the survey will help measure the impact Boise Nice has on the city, allowing for efforts and initiatives to be thoughtfully implemented.

See what the Boise Nice Project is planning next at boisenice.org.

North End Little Seed Library / Courtesy Stephanie Coates

Members of the Boise Nice Project celebrate the launch of their organization. / Rourke O’Brien

Donate some cash

“Idaho runs on nonprofits. This is a chance for the public to really invest in and to continue allowing their local nonprofits to create a great quality of life in our community,” says Kevin Bailey, CEO of the Idaho Nonprofit Center.

So, if you’re limited on time but have a few dollars to spare, Idaho Gives presents a perfect opportunity to help your community with whatever it is you’ve got. Our diverse and plentiful nonprofit community means that there’s a cause that aligns with whatever your values are, and they’re undoubtedly fostering the sense of kindness that makes our community special.

“There really is a cause for every type of passion that someone has,” Bailey says.

Idaho Gives is a program from the Idaho Nonprofit Center that raises financial support and awareness for nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Idaho. Started in 2013, Idaho Gives is an annual event that typically lasts a few days with over

Volunteers share why they support Idaho Gives. / Idaho Nonprofit Center

600 participating organizations. In its first year, Idaho Gives raised just short of $600,000 compared to last year’s $3.9 million. “People providing great resources and making communities great places to live, that’s Idaho nonprofits,” adds Bailey.

While Idaho Gives officially only lasts a few days each year, the opportunity to give is year-long.

Learn more at idahogives.org.

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET INVOLVED?

SCOOP THE POOP

Harrison Hollow Trailhead.

Every third Saturday from 9:00am to 10:30am, weather permitting. Pick up special gifts left behind from our furry friends to keep trails clean. Visit LTTV’s website for details.

GROUP VOLUNTEERING

A choose your own adventure, the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley has many opportunities for groups looking to get involved. If you’re interested in fence installation, seed starting, trail work, and more, email stewardship@lttv.org for more information.

AND MORE

There is a constant need for volunteers to assist with new projects. Connect with the LTTV on their website, LTTV.org, to learn more about unique volunteer opportunities.

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