Cottonwood & Grangeville

We arrived at the Monastery of St Gertrude in Cottonwood much earlier than we expected and were graciously hosted there. Sister Carol Ann gave us a quick tour of the Monastery and we heard about some of their history.  We saw the chapel that holds the original altar from when it was built, amazing. It had been restored and we came the day after Easter and the decorations were still present.
We were provided with meals (they had home baked bread as well as home canned pears!!! YUM) and a cozy room to stay in.  It was spacious, private, with an incredible view from my own personal deck!
Thank you Sister Carol Ann for being such a wonderful host.

Here is the fantastic view from my deck!

While we were staying in Cottonwood, we spent a lot of our time in Grangeville.  This community seems committed to making a difference.  They are very much focused on developing an environment that is centered around child and family health.  I only say this because I heard from community members about how committed they are to their families and they are well aware of the impact a low income can have on trying to survive.
We were welcomed into the community and thanked over and over again.  We felt so appreciated and that is very inspiring.  I am so grateful to be in a position to travel and meet new people who are willing to share their personal experiences.  You find yourself enjoying the simple moment of conversation that when they thank you for listening it is very eye opening & humbling.
I come away from Grangeville & Cottonwood analyzing what I am passionate about and how I can make a difference.  Many citizens in this community came across to have a strong opinion, but it is one with a passion for value of hard work, humility & a desire to enjoy life.

Here is some data about Idaho county:

Estimated population in 2009: 15,448

Number of people on food stamps in September 2009: 1,113

Percentage of population on food stamps in September 2009: 7%

Number of grocery stores that accept EBT: 13

Percentage of unemployed in December 2009: 11.9%

Child poverty rate in 2008: 25.3%

Closest Food Stamp office: Grangeville (Estimated distance: 15 miles)

Here is our rental car in Cottonwood :)

Need a bath? I love it.

Thanks for reading, our next stop is Coeur d'Alene!

~Reyne