LOCAL GIVING

Editor’s Note: During this special season of giving, The Ledger and First Security Bank would like to salute all the local nonprofits that provide services to Sanders County. They truly put the “unity” in the community. We hope you will consider a donation here at home this holiday season.

Camp Bighorn

1850 MT Highway 135

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-3144

Website: campbighorn.com

Contact: Brian Meaden

Purpose: Camp Bighorn is a non-profit adventure camp that has programming for the community throughout the year. We run a Wild Child program for kids in the spring that encourages kids to get outside, and we also run day camps for kids in the summer.

Cancer Network

of Sanders County

P.O. Box 1311

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-4278

Contact: Shelley Bertrand

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

Clark Fork Valley

Hospital Foundation

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 Road

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-4873

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: 499-2688

Purpose: Helping Hands provides ecumenical emergency assistance funds to help those in need within the county. That might include 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: Dedicated to preserving the history of the Hot Springs area.

Little Bitterroot Services

P.O. Box 189

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-3689

Contact: Shannon Benson

Purpose: Little Bitterroot is a system of centers to support 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 areas of employment, community living and recreation.

Project ASCENT

P.O. Box 1954

Thompson Falls, MT, 59873

Contact: (406) 799-1793, [email protected]

Purpose: Project ASCENT was created to introduce participants into the natural world through education and expedition. Project ASCENT’s programs are jam-packed full of 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!

Rex Theater Project

PO Box 1382

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

RexTheaterProject.org

We are committed to giving our communities future generations a constructive place to work and gather after hours!

While we accomplished much in 2023, there are still items to check off the list before we can say “done”. Currently we have four TFHS students volunteering Fridays and Saturdays and another student, who is also a member of the CFV Elks Antler Program, volunteers on Mondays. They are learning how to run the projector, concession stand, cleaning protocols, counting back change, making bank deposits and so much more. We’d love more volunteers and a student representative back on our board. This is for THEM and their volunteer hours equate to scholarship dollars upon graduation!

Sanders County 4-H

2504 Tradewinds Way Suite 1B

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-6934

Contact: Juli Thurston

Purpose: 4-H is a national organization that teaches kids life skills 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 children of all school ages. Help send a kid to camp or to compete at a state level.

Sanders County Coalition

for Families

P.O. Box 1136

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-3218

Contact: Gayle Seratt, Director

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

Sanders County Council on Aging

P.O. Box 339

Hot Springs, MT 59845

Phone: 741-2343

Purpose: For more than 40 years Sanders County Council on Aging (SCCOA) has been offering services to area seniors. Their programs include healthy meals at local Senior Centers, Meals on Wheels, and Senior Commodities. They also offer affordable income-based Homemaking and Respite care. Our Information and Assistance Counselors assist clients with completing forms/applications for Medicare, LIEAP and other public assistance programs. The SCCOA coordinates with Sanders County Transportation providing low cost rides locally and to nearby cities for all area residents.

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 85/3rd St. West

Dixon, MT 59831-0085

Heron Senior Center

P.O. Box 68/170 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

Box 935/ W. 205 Meany St.

Plains, MT 59859

Thompson Falls Senior Center

Box 444/1191 Mt. Silcox Dr .

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

406-827-3457

Trout Creek Senior Center

10 N. Larch

Trout Creek, MT 59874

Phone: 827-4461

Sanders County Libraries

Purpose: Help support local libraries and their many activities related to reading and learning.

They also offer special programs for children and cultural experiences for their communities.

Friends of the Thompson Falls Library

P.O. Box 337

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Plains Library Foundation

P.O. Box 248

Plains, MT 59859

Hot Springs Library

P.O. Box 850

Hot Springs, MT 59845

Laurie Hill Library

P.O. Box 128

Heron, MT 59844

Sanders County Community Ambulances

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

Thompson Falls Ambulance

P.O. Box 1055

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-4536

Contact: Tim Cox

Plains Community Ambulance

P.O. Box 268

Plains, MT 59859

Phone: 826-3670

Noxon Community Ambulance Service

P.O. Box 170

Noxon, MT 59853

Phone: 847-2433

Hot Springs Ambulance

P.O. Box

Hot Springs, MT 59845

741-2211

Sanders County Community Development

2504 Tradewinds Way, Suite C1

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 406-827-6935

Contact: Ray Brown

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.

Sanders County

Community Housing

P.O. Box 519

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

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

Thanksgiving Basket Project

P.O. Box 426

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Phone: 827-9434

Contact: Ron Reedy

Purpose: Each Thanksgiving this group works through Community Congregational Church to provide Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families throughout the area.

Sanders County Fair Foundation

P.O. Box 9

Plains, MT 59859

Purpose: The Fair Foundation is a non-profit corporation which supports projects 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 your neighbors in need. Almost one in four Montana children go 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

Provides clothing in addition to food.

Community Services Fellowship

1419 Mt Highway 200

Noxon, MT 59845

Phone: 847-2151

Purpose: Provides clothing in addition to food.

Plains Community Food Bank

P.O. Box 957

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

c/o 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

P.O. Box 774

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Purpose: The SCHS is dedicated to preserving local history and operates the Old Jail Museum throughout the summer months with a special display each year and presents the annual Christmas on Main Street gingerbread contest.

Sanders County Veterans Transportation

P.O. Box 1867

Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Contact: Lark Chadwick

Phone: 242-0217

Contact: Dick Wells

Phone: 827-4337

Purpose: This organization provides military veterans free transportation to medical care. A fundraising organization was established to collect donations in order to replace transportation for disabled veterans.

The Spilled Milkshake

Caregiving During All Times

Thompson Falls meeting: 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays starting Jan. 3, Thompson Falls Senior Center, 1191 Mt. Silcox Drive.. Plains Meeting: 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 2, CFVH Building 2.

A new support group series for caregivers. CFVH Community Health Improvement Specialist Dwy Simpson will lead the two groups weekly and offer support and resources to caregivers of all kinds: Parents caring for kids of all ages; adults caring for parents; grandparents caring for grandchildren; individuals caring for a spouse, friend or loved one. Spread the word with friends, family and neighbors. All caregivers are welcome. Learn more and RSVP at http://www.cfvh.org/events..

TCCIA Trout Creek Community Improvement Association

P.O. Box 1416

Trout Creek, MT 59874

Phone: 827-3226 or 827-4269

Purpose: Promoting Trout

Creek Community Parks 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 also provides free or low-cost veterinary services to local animals. They are a private non-profit that exists solely on 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

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, for use by youth and adult teams in Plains and Sanders County.

The Ledger has been collecting this information for several years. To be included or if your information has changed, please email us at [email protected] to let us know so we can plan on including you next year.