New SEICAA director looks forward to Golf Classic

New SEICAA Program Manager Renae Lynch believes that “Every community member needs to know what SEICAA is and what resources are provided through SEICAA.   

Many of us know of a friend, family member, or acquaintance that may be looking for resources,  I feel that SEICAA is a go-to resource where if we don’t specifically have what they’re looking for, we certainly have resources where we can help them find those programs they might need.”  

Lynch started her tenure around two months ago at the Soda Springs office at 159 E 2nd S (just north of the city police station) and has been getting to know the area and her role at the agency since then.  

“We really love it here!” Lynch says.  She moved out to Soda Springs from Tennessee, until a desire to live closer to kids, grandkids, and her elderly mother brought her out west.  “I’ve been looking for a long, long time to be a part of a community where I can really give back and be immersed in this community as a vital member and to be able to use what I’ve been given as a gift, which is compassion and helpfulness to reach out.”   SEICAA is certainly an opportunity to put that philosophy into practice.

SEICAA (The South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency) is a regional resource which helps to “develop and administer anti-poverty programs and services to address various needs” in the communities it serves, “including basic needs, housing, and weatherization assistance” due to its belief that “once our needs are met, we’re more likely to be successful and become self-sufficient.”

As Lynch herself explains, “We serve a very diverse group of people.  We like to focus on helping vulnerable populations to help establish self-sufficiency.  You know, from time to time we all need a little help in our lives, and that’s where SEICAA comes in—to bolster households that may need a leg up either with energy assistance, or food security, or resources that our other partnering agencies might be able to help with.”

SEICAA also offers available resources with neighboring agencies such as Center for Hope, Headstart, Family Services Alliance, local schools and others for the community.  

The programs that SEICAA offers are funded by a number of different grants and assistance programs.  LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is one example.  Now that the county is at the tail end of the cold season, Lynch notes that it’s already time to start thinking about next winter and planning for energy costs.

SEICAA works with various utility partner-vendors, such as the City of Soda Springs, Intermountain Gas and other great local partners to deliver the heating program’s direct product, heat.  But the biggest community support for heating assistance comes in the form of Caribou County SEICAA’s highest profile event of the year, the “Project Warmth” Golf Classic, planned for August 22.  The tournament is an annual tradition that helps to raise funds for the Project Warmth program, which offers energy assistance to residents who need extra support against southeast Idaho’s frigid winter temperatures.  As the event draws closer, more details will become available about the exact time, entry process, and team signup.

SEICAA is also well-known local for the Food Pantry, which is open every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  No appointment is necessary and the pantry is open throughout the year, making every effort to serve all who come through the door.  

The Food Pantry is run by the volunteer efforts of members of Beta Sigma Phi, who Lynch made sure to specifically credit.  “I am so grateful to them—they manage our entire food pantry on a volunteer basis, in collaboration with our community members. I want to say that our community members here are fantastic and amazing!  We run our food pantry on donations, and a majority of those do come from our community members.”  She praised the organized and efficient nature of the operation, which provides assistance throughout the year.  “They have got it dialed in, that’s for sure,” Lynch says.  “It’s important, especially since one of the challenges for the community as a whole is the cost of food—it’s getting more and more expensive, and it can be harder to make ends meet, which is where we can help.”  “When we have an opportunity to help each other out, the sky’s the limit on what we can do if we rally together,” she says.

With the Food Pantry under the same roof, Lynch also notes that she would like to expand the educational element of the resource.  “I am very interested in providing families information on healthy eating and nutrition education,” she says, explaining that informational materials are planned for the lobby area. 

Some of the other programs SEICAA offers include providing clothing for job interviews, as well as winter clothes during the cold season, and personal hygiene items.  

Despite being fairly new to the area, Lynch’s family has the unique distinction of having specifically chosen it.

“We are very enthusiastic advocates of the outdoors, and this is just a beautiful community to be in for that,” she says.  “We were going to travel for a while, and we started looking at places on the map.   And because my husband has an old 1948 Willy’s Jeep we thought ‘this is the perfect place to go—to fish, drive the Jeep around and experience the beautiful scenery of Soda.”  So far, it seems the area has lived up to her hopes for it and let her use her gifts in the service of her newfound home.

Given the recent anxiety about program funding across the country, it’s inescapable that the question of continued support is raised, but Lynch is nothing but positive on that front.  “The positivity is there for our continued funding, because the need is always there.  We have our veterans, and elderly populations.  There’s always a question—will there be enough funding for the next program year?  And that’s why fundraising is so important, and why I wanted to make sure to talk about the Project Warmth Gold Classic.  We are always looking for volunteers and sponsors.  I love our community, and I want to connect with as many people as possible to support this event,” she says.

The SEICAA office is open from Monday 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and can be reached at 208-547-4257.  The SEICAA website can be found at seicaa.org.  SEICAA serves the communities of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, and Power Counties with on-site offices, and Oneida and Franklin counties remotely.