Lifestyle05

While Montanans have responded generously to help ease suffering from natural disasters in Mississippi, Louisiana and in far-flung parts of the globe, the local United Way drive is an opportunity to meet growing needs closer to home.

"With all the recent global tragedies it is important to recognize our local community has tremendous needs," said Heidi Ulbricht of Kalispell, who said she feels it's time to dig deep to help out people in need in the Flathead Valley. "It is essential to commit, participate and reach out to our neighbors and friends of the Flathead Valley with donations of time, talent and resources."

Local agencies are stretched thin, facing decreasing donations and increasing demands on services

The Flathead Food Bank's Kalispell food pantry, for example, distributed 1,126 more food boxes through Nov. 30 than during the previous year, according to Executive Director Robin Layton (7,118 boxes in 2005 compared to 5,992 boxes in 2004).

During the same period, food donations were down by 50,644 pounds overall at the agency's five pantries, and food costs increased by nearly $10,000.

Samaritan House, a Kalispell homeless shelter that serves families, had to turn away 196 people this year because the shelter was full. During 2004, 183 people had to be turned away, compared with 164 in 2003.

Many of the United Way's 27 member agencies are experiencing similar increases in demands for services, so the need is great. Increases in gasoline and heating oil prices put additional pressure on both agencies and the citizens they serve.

The United Way's fund-raising drive, which continues through Dec. 31, gives local residents a convenient way to help a wide variety of local charities. Ninety-nine cents of every dollar donated stays in the local community to help people in need.

"Doing What Matters" is the theme of this year's campaign, which benefits the United Way and its Member Agencies in Flathead County. The goal is to raise more than last year's total of $843,976, the most ever raised for United Way, and to help more people than ever before in the community.

The drive so far has raised $414,083, or 49 percent of the goal.

Donations may be made with cash, payroll deductions, charging to a credit card, billing on a periodic basis or through an automatic bank transfer. Donors also may designate which member agencies or non-affiliated partner agencies they want to receive their gift.

For more information on the United Way campaign, call 752-7266.

Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 7217, Kalispell, MT 59904.

Member agencies in Flathead County are the American Red Cross, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, Eagle Transit, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Attention Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Lamplighter Volunteer Program, Literacy Volunteers, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center, Touch of Grace Clinic (Salvation Army) and the Violence Free Crisis Line/Abbie Shelter. The Canyon Quick Response Unit is a grantee agency of the United Way.

Services of the United Way include CASA for Kids, Disaster Care Services, Help Net-First Call for help, Leaders of Tomorrow, Teen Night and United Way Volunteer Center.

Last year, United Way member agencies provided nearly 68,000 unduplicated acts of assistance to those in need.