Project Warmth has a great day on the links

The annual fundraiser for SEICAA’s energy assistance program landed at the Oregon Trail Country Club on Friday.  

The annual Project Warmth Classic, a team-based golf scramble tournament held at the Oregon Trail Country Club, is SEICAA’s largest and longest-running effort to build an energy assistance fund and assist impoverished individuals with outstanding heating costs.  While the tournament was not held during COVID, it has otherwise been a yearly event since its inception in 1993.  

Entry fees of $50 per player ($250 per team) are used toward the energy assistance fund, and the prizes given out for the tournament are donated from a large number of local and regional businesses, organizations, and individuals.

While no one claimed the “Hole in One” prize, the team headed by Jake Barthlome came in first place with an impressive 58, followed by a strong second from Brent Erickson’s team with a 61.  Jarrin Bagley and Ty Allen’s teams tied for third with 63, and Mark Culter, Joe Borich, and Morco’s teams tied for fifth with a 65.   Pam Hillaker’s team and Itafos tied for 8th with 66, and they were followed by JJ Murphy’s team, the Golightly team, Jon Winmill’s team, and Jennie Shimmick’s team.  (If you think you have déjà vu, Barthlome’s team was also the winner of the Cardinal Classic earlier this summer.)

Project Warmth is an initiative that has been a part of the local SEICAA effort for many years, and provides a considerable amount of the funding necessary to maintain the energy assistance program.  The program allows those with limited financial means to apply for energy assistance to help with home heating costs, especially during Idaho’s long winters.  The program has been enormously successful in the area, and has contributed to the quality of life for many Caribou County residents. 

SEICAA serves seven counties in southeast Idaho—Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, and Power.  With regard to its mission, the organization states, “SEICAA is dedicated to providing opportunity and support for individuals and communities to thrive and reach their fullest potential, promoting self-sufficiency and greater economic independence through services, education, affordable housing and training,” as their official language reads.  SEICAA is one of the over a thousand Community Action Agencies across the country which work to support community members in similar ways.  

Renae Lynch was hired as the SEICAA director for the Caribou County area in February, and this is her first time with the tournament.  “People have been amazing,” Lynch said.  “This is a great community for people being involved and helping out.”

Executive director Joe Borich joined Lynch and other SEICAA employees on site to draw names for the raffle, and announce the winners of this year’s tournament.  

“Great day out there today,” Joe Borich said as the golfers gathered back in the clubhouse for the drawings.  “Volunteer and support is literally amazing here in Caribou County,” he said.

Patrick Perry with SEICAA explained that the money raised goes a long way to replenishing the warmth fund.  “Every dollar raised through this stays here in Caribou,” he said.

Every year is a different set of economic and other circumstances, but Borich, Perry, and Lynch anticipated that as previous years, the amount raised would total several thousand dollars for the program.

A large number of prizes and raffle items were donated by the community and other supporting parties.  As participants gathered in the clubhouse following the tournament, prizes were given out by way of raffle.  In addition to the cash prize, many gift certificates, items, services, and other valuables were raffled.  

A community like Caribou County is one that is built on the strength of the shared involvement in keeping families and connections strong that is expressed by many people throughout the year.  With especially cold winters a feature (not a bug!) of the area, the energy assistance available through SEICAA can be literally lifesaving.  The office can be contacted directly with questions about the program, the food assistance programs, food bank, and for information on how to contribute to the organization if you are in a position to do so.  (208) 547-4257 is the office contact number.