Bear Lake Outreach outlines intergenerational programs, seeks grants for community center

Sandra Blake, a founding partner and president of Bear Lake Outreach, presented the nonprofit’s model to the Garden City council and asked for the city’s support as the group pursues grant funding and local partnerships.

"My name is Sandra Blake, and I'm a founding partner and the president of Bear Lake Outreach," Blake said, describing programs that bring seniors and at‑risk youth together for fitness, mentorship, wellness education and social activities. She said the group piloted activities through a pickleball club that reached about 80 participants, with a core of roughly 30 full‑time attendees.

Blake said Bear Lake Outreach plans to apply for federal grants administered through the state and, in some cases, the National Park Service. She told the council the group is pursuing grants in the range of approximately $200,000 to $2,000,000 to support land acquisition and facility development; some grant options would require a local match. "If we can get this worked out and we can buy the property, that would be awesome," she said.

Blake outlined a low‑cost, community‑driven delivery model led by trained volunteers and hosted in shared community spaces; she emphasized that programming would be free or low‑cost and that participants would not be turned away for inability to pay. She also described early operational details: general liability and DNO insurance are being finalized and the nonprofit plans to list Garden City and Laketown as additional insureds for events using city facilities.

The presentation included short‑term outreach activities and an early fundraiser: a free community spaghetti dinner the group plans to host in the Mountain View Room later this month. Blake said the group has reached out to local schools to identify volunteer opportunities — tutoring, mentoring and arts‑based visits from seniors — and is discussing modular building options for an eventual community center that could expand over time.

After the presentation the council voted to approve Bear Lake Outreach's business license, clearing the nonprofit to operate locally and continue grant and fundraising efforts.

Next steps: Bear Lake Outreach will continue grant applications and strategic planning with city staff and community partners; the council did not commit city funding but approved the nonprofit’s local license and allowed use of city meeting space for initial events.