What if, when you had a little extra money at the end of the month, you could easily help someone in need? What if you could donate as little as $50 to a charity and know exactly how it will be used? Do you find it overwhelming to choose which cause or person to help when you're in a position to give?
Love in Action is the solution to these questions. This unique, locally-based nonprofit makes it easier than ever to love your neighbor.
The concept behind Love in Action is simple: they gather specific needs from individuals and families, such as "short on rent," "need new shoes for school," or "gas card needed for a job interview." These needs are then posted on an online registry where donors can browse and choose what they’d like to contribute to.
Donors can be confident that every need listed is legitimate. Love in Action works directly with caseworkers and approved service agencies, such as the Community Resource EnVision Center and 7B Care Clinic, to ensure the accuracy of each request. And the best part? One hundred percent of your donation goes directly to the need.
Since Love In Action started collaborating with the Community Resource EnVision Center in March of 2024, they have served 49 clients and provided $18,371.93 in direct assistance to people in need. From helping people avoid homelessness to getting needed car repairs so they can take their kids to school and get to work they are ultimately meeting needs before they spiral into more serious crises.
Founded by Danielle Swerin, Love in Action was born from a sense of divine calling. Eventually, Danielle could no longer ignore the pull to make this vision a reality and created the nonprofit to make giving more accessible and impactful for everyone.
Having first conceived the idea for Love in Action in her 20s, Danielle is now a mother of two young children and one of the younger executive directors leading a nonprofit. It was years of prayer, taking small steps, and ultimately deciding to go for it that brought her vision to life.
Danielle studied criminal justice with an emphasis on victimology and victim services. After graduating, she worked as a domestic violence court case manager at the Women's and Children's Alliance. In this role, Danielle became keenly aware of the gaps in resources for people going through difficult times and realized how important it was to help bridge those gaps.
After years of reflecting on the idea, Danielle officially founded Love in Action in 2020 while living in Boise. Afterward, she and her husband moved back to her hometown of Sandpoint, where Love in Action continued meeting needs in Boise for a time. Following the birth of her two children in quick succession, Danielle took a brief break from expanding Love in Action. Eventually, she officially relocated the organization to Sandpoint, focusing on meeting needs in Bonner County.
Love in Action only accepts referrals from a select group of trusted partners, yet the demand for their services continues to grow. Due to their volunteer-based structure, they sometimes struggle to meet the rising need. Repeat donors play a crucial role in supporting the organization, and Love in Action depends on faith and community backing to fulfill its mission.
One of the easiest ways you can help is by spreading the word. As a newer nonprofit that's just beginning to take off—now that Danielle is able to dedicate more time to nurturing it—many people still don’t know Love in Action exists.
And that’s exactly what
Love in Action is doing.
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