Giving Local

“For families, I think it’s important to share with children exactly why it is important to help others. Our community is strengthened when we look out for each other and we all need help at different points throughout our lives. I think the holidays are a good time to model to children what giving back looks like. Donating can involve food, funds or time and all three can help to make a difference.” ~ Laura Stonecipher, Program Manager at Gallatin Valley Food Bank, HRDC

Gallatin Valley Food Bank

Skipping dinner, eating less or not eating well – food insecurity impacts people from all walks of life every day. Gallatin Valley Food Bank is a critical link between food and the people who need it in southwest Montana.

Sitting down as a family and talking about the reality of hunger and how it feels is a good way to engage kids in the need to feed our community. You might find that your kids love going to the grocery store and picking out food they want to donate. Adult guidance is suggested: No one needs cases of Cocoa Pebbles!

Food donations can be dropped off at the food bank Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Donate Blood

Donating blood is a great example of giving in a nontraditional, much needed way during the holidays. Though children under age 16 are not eligible to donate blood, parents who donate provide a wonderful example of selfless giving. Blood cannot be manufactured or made; it can only come from people who donate some of their own to help others. This type of gift truly saves lives! Besides the obvious need for trauma patients, blood is often needed for cancer patients, those with blood disorders, surgeries and even sometimes during childbirth. Donating blood is a very meaningful way to give during the holidays.

“Blood donation became especially important to our family following our toddler’s battle with cancer. In the 17 months following his diagnosis of Stage IV, high risk neuroblastoma, our son Caden received 35 transfusions of blood products. These transfusions sustained his life and allowed him to continue with his aggressive treatment. Each time a bag was hung, I gave thanks for the anonymous donor who so selflessly gave of themselves and their time. It really is a precious, humbling gift! Caden is a healthy middle schooler today, and our family hosts an annual blood drive called “Get Poked for Caden” each June in celebration and to support our community.” ~ Pam Shrauger

The Harvest of Giving blood drive will be held on Giving Tuesday, November 30, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Commons at Baxter and Love. To find other blood drives near you, go to Vitalant.org. Vitalant is the exclusive provider of blood to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital.

The Bozeman 3

The Bozeman 3 is a nonprofit serving Gallatin Valley families of children with cancer. Started as a backyard fundraiser in honor of three Bozeman children undergoing cancer treatment in Seattle back in 2013, the organization now supports other local families going through the unimaginable hardships of childhood cancer. The Bozeman 3’s mission is threefold: providing support through financial assistance, peer networking and funding of pediatric cancer research.

This holiday season The Bozeman 3 is holding a Holiday Gift Card Drive. Often children with cancer need to be treated at out-of-state children’s hospitals for some, if not all, of their care. As such, items like gas cards, gift cards to grocery stores and coffee shops available in larger cities, airlines or online retailers are greatly appreciated. The Bozeman 3 welcomes efforts big and small to support these kids and their families.

As a volunteer organization, The Bozeman 3 relies heavily on the generosity of area businesses and individuals to support its mission. Events such as its annual Super Bowl Fun Run, Give Big Gallatin Valley and its End of Summer Fun Fest provide most of its fundraising.

That said, grassroots efforts from within the community have also generated heartfelt, substantial contributions in support of The Bozeman 3 families. Golf tournaments, pint nights, workout classes and Holiday Gift Card Drives are just some examples of our community stepping up to help in tangible ways.

CASA

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program is hoping to make the holidays a little more joyful for children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect and are temporarily living in out-of-home placements. This year, the program has decided to gift “experiences” for the whole family – the foster child(ren) and the family who is caring for them – in lieu of individual gifts.

Often the children served by this program have not had the opportunity to experience things such as creating artwork, attending theatrical or other types of performances, trips to museums or active adventures such as an escape room or trampoline park. CASA/GAL of Gallatin County is looking for donations to make this happen.

The plan is to create a care package that will include a gift card to a local restaurant, a gift or gift card for an “experience” that the whole family can appreciate, a board game or book that can be enjoyed by all, and some home-baked goodies. Gifts will be tailored to the makeup of each family in hopes of providing the most meaningful, age-appropriate experience for the children and adults in the home.

The program is also looking for “packaging” ideas and materials.

To donate gift cards for restaurants or experiences, monetary donations to purchase the gift cards, child appropriate board games and books, baked goods or supplies, please call 406-582-2051 or email office@ gallatincasagal.org.

*In order to make these gifts as equitable as possible, please contact the CASA before purchasing any gifts of high value. The giving event will take place on December 18, and all donations will need to be made to the program by December 10.

The CASA/GAL of Gallatin County program advocates for children involved in the Child Welfare System using highly trained volunteers. This is the 35th year that the program has been providing a voice for these children in the district court system.