Local Giving

Editor’s Note: During this special season of giving, The Ledger and First Security Bank would like to salute all the local nonprofit agencies that provide services to our Sanders County communities. They volunteer time, services, hearts and souls to help others. They truly put the “unity” in community. While there are many wonderful and worthy organizations in our country, we hope you will consider a donation right here at home this holiday season.

Cancer Network of Sanders County (CNSC)

P.O. Box 1311

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-4278

Contact: Kathy Miller

Purpose: Help support local residents undergoing cancer treatment through the CNSC. Funds go towards travel expenses, medications, prostheses, wigs or related expenses not covered by insurance.

Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation (CFVHF)

P.O. Box 768

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-4858

Contact: Barry Fowler

Purpose: CFVHF helps to support the hospital through purchasing equipment, program support, capital improvements and special departmental needs.

Clark Fork Valley Hospital Hospice

10 Kruger Rd.

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-4873

Contact: Laura Lanfear

Purpose: Hospice is a concept of total support and care for patients who have been diagnosed with an illness which will result in a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice helps patients and their families live the remaining months as comfortable and prepared for the end of life as possible.

Helping Hands of Sanders County

P.O. Box 513

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-9472

Purpose: Helping Hands provides ecumenical emergency assistance funds to help those in need within the county. Funds can be used to help with food, medication, propane, utilities, vehicle repair or even emergency rental assistance.

LaRue Hot Springs Museum

P.O. Box 28

Hot Springs, MT 59845

Purpose: The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Hot Springs area.

Little Bitterroot Special Services

P.O. Box 189

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-3689, ext. 100

Contact: Shannon Benson

Purpose: Little Bitterroot is a system of centers supporting the independence of special needs citizens in Sanders County. They plan, develop and operate a cost effective and comprehensive range of services for persons with disabilities in the areas of employment, community living and recreation.

Sanders County 4-H Clubs

2504 Tradewinds Way

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-6934

Contact: Juli Thurston

Purpose: 4-H is a national organization that teaches life skills to youth including responsibility, communication, leadership and hard work. The 4-H motto is “Learn by Doing.” There are several 4-H clubs across the county that include school age children. Help support a trip to summer camp or provide the ability for a youth member to compete at state level.

Sanders County Arts Council

PO Box 397

Plains, MT 59859

Contact: Joy Nelson, 406-826-8585

Purpose: We sponsor programs and activities in three areas:

Tapestry: our performing arts series featuring six performances each season at The Rex and The Paradise Center

Mosaic: visual arts series including “Art on the Walls”—local artists display quarterly at Clark Fork Valley Hospital; “Artists in Paradise”—three day exhibit and sale; and a series of adult classes

Kaleidoscope: summer arts camp for youth with classes in visual and performing arts

Sanders County Coalition for Families (SCCFF)

P.O. Box 1136

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-3218

Contact: Gayle Seratt

Purpose: The mission of the SCCFF is to provide a safe haven and supportive services to victims or survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Help SCCFF provide a crisis help line, advocacy for victims, transitional housing, community outreach, peer advocacy, financial assistance, emergency shelter and programs for children.

Sanders County Council on Aging (SCCOA)

P.O. Box 339

Hot Springs, MT 59845

Phone: 741-2343

Purpose: For more than 40 years SCCOA has offered services to area seniors. Their programs include healthy meals at local senior centers, home delivered meals and senior commodities. They also offer affordable income-based homemaking and respite care. Information and assistance counselors assist clients with completing forms/applications for Medicare, LIEAP and other public assistance programs. SCCOA coordinates with Sanders County Transportation in providing low cost rides locally and to nearby cities for all area residents.

The Paradise Center

Paradise Elementary School Preservation Committee

PO Box 162

Paradise, MT 59856

Phone: (406) 826-5003

http://www.paradisecentermt.org

Sanders County Senior Centers

Purpose: There are seven senior centers scattered throughout the county providing services to the senior population. Most offer weekly meals and a place to gather in addition to supporting meals on wheels, transportation, education and other support services.

Dixon Senior Center

P.O. Box 85/35 3rd St. West

Dixon, MT 59831-0085

Heron Senior Center

P.O. Box 205/170 Railroad Ave.

Heron, MT 59844

Hot Springs (Camas) Senior Center

P.O. Box 591/101 Main St.

Hot Springs, MT 59845

Noxon Senior Center

P.O. Box 17/2nd Street

Noxon, MT 59853

Plains/Paradise Senior Center

P.O. Box 935/W. 205 Meany St.

Plains, MT 59859

Thompson Falls Senior Center

P.O. Box 444/1191 Mt. Silcox Rd.

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Trout Creek Senior Center

P.O. Box 1448/10 N. Larch

Trout Creek, MT 59874

Phone: 827-4461

Sanders County Libraries

Purpose: Helps support local libraries and many activities related to reading and learning. They offer special programs for children and provide cultural experiences throughout the community.

Friends of the Thompson Falls Library

P.O. Box 337

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Plains Library Foundation

P.O. Box 399

Plains, MT 59859

Hot Springs Library

P.O. Box 850

Hot Springs, MT 59845 

Sanders County Community Ambulances

Purpose: There are four local ambulance services providing emergency medical care and transportation for patients. All local services are entirely staffed by volunteers. While a county levy provides some financial support, donations are needed for equipment, training and operations.

Thompson Falls Ambulance

P.O. Box 1055

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-4825

Contact: Dorothy Lyght

Plains Community Ambulance

P.O. Box 268

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-3670

Noxon Community Ambulance Service

P.O. Box 170

Noxon, MT 59853

Hot Springs Ambulance

P.O. Box 830

Hot Springs, MT 59845

Phone: 741-2211

Sanders County Community Housing Organization (SCCHO)

P.O. Box 519

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Purpose: The purpose of the SCCHO is to promote safe and affordable housing for residents of all ages in Sanders County.

Sanders County Fair Foundation

P.O. Box 9

Plains, MT 59859

Purpose: The Fair Foundation is a non-profit corporation which supports project related to the Sanders County Fair and the fairgrounds.

Sanders County Food Banks

Purpose: There are several active community food banks throughout the county to help feed the hungry. Many have related that the need continues to outpace resources. Donations of food and money go toward helping to feed neighbors in need. Almost one in four Montana children goes to bed hungry. Please don’t let this happen to children and families in Sanders County.

Community Harvest Food Pantry

P.O. Box 314

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-6333

Gospel Mountain Assembly of God Food Bank

P.O. Box 1029

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-4611

Community Services Fellowship

Purpose: Provides clothing in addition to food.

P.O. Box 164

Noxon, MT 59845

Phone: 847-4000

Plains Community Food Bank

P.O. Box 767

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-3800

Hot Springs Food Pantry

P.O. Box 25

Hot Springs, MT 59845

Phone: 741-2012

Sheriff’s Relief Fund

Sanders County Sheriff’s Office

P.O. Box 910

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-3584

Purpose: The Sheriff’s Relief Fund provides food, gifts and essentials for local families in need during the holidays.

Sanders County Historical Society (SCHS)

P.O. Box 774

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Purpose: SCHS is dedicated to preserving local history and operates the Old Jail Museum throughout the summer months. Each year, they provide visitors with a special display and presents the annual Christmas on Main Street Gingerbread Contest. SCHS strives to preserve the history of Sanders County for future generations. 

Sanders County Veterans Transportation

P.O. Box 1867

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Contact: Dick Wells

Phone: 827-4337

Purpose: This organization provides military veterans free transportation to medical care.

Thanksgiving Basket Project

P.O. Box 426

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-9434 or 827-3906

Contact: Ron Reedy or Pastor Matt Schraeder

Purpose: Each Thanksgiving this group coordinates with businesses, community members and local churches to provide Thanksgiving food baskets to families in need throughout the area.

Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA)

P.O. Box 1416

Trout Creek, MT 59874

Phone: 827-3226 or 827-4269

Purpose: Promoting the Trout Creek Community Park and the community of Trout Creek. Also facilitates the Community Cares program which assists those in need throughout the year.

Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS)

P.O. Box 1589

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-8722

Contact: Wanda Thorpe

Purpose: Help provide a shelter for the lost, homeless, neglected or abused animals in northwestern Montana until they are adopted. TRACS provides free or low-cost veterinary services to local animals. They are a private non-profit that operates solely through donations. TRACS is a no-kill animal shelter that finds homes for hundreds of animals. Always open to new volunteers and donations, the shelter also hosts a number of fundraisers throughout the year.

Wild Horse Sports Association (WSA)

P.O. Box 4

Plains, MT 59859

Purpose: WSA is working towards building an outdoor sports complex with baseball, soccer, and little guy football fields providing a venue for youth and adult teams in Plains and Sanders County.

Project ASCENT

P.O. Box 1954

Thompson Falls, MT, 59873

Contact: [email protected]

Phone: 799-1793

Purpose: Project ASCENT was created to introduce participants into the natural world through education and expedition. Project ASCENT programs are jam-packed with basic wilderness and safety information. Participants experience varying levels of outdoor skills and activities in an immersive setting. An appreciation of our environment is coupled with an opportunity to meet recreational professionals from our community in a service-learning atmosphere to provide campers with the ability and motivation to become lifelong stewards of our world and its offerings. All camps and lessons are based in a picturesque region of Montana where an appreciation of beauty and tranquility are immanent, and free of charge!

Sanders County Community Development Corporation (SCCDC)

2504 Tradewinds Way, Suite C1

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-6935

Contact: Jen Kreiner

Purpose: SCCDC is dedicated to the improvement of quality of life for area residents through community project facilitation and small business assistance. The organization focuses on project development, business education and resource connections. 

The Ledger has been collecting this information for several years. If we inadvertently did not include your organization or your information has changed, please accept our apologies and let us know so we can plan on including you next year.