Hot Springs reaches clinic funding goal for clinic

In an amazing community effort, the people of Hot Springs have raised enough money to build a $750,000 medical clinic to replace the current crumbling facility.

Sharon Flesch, chairwoman of the clinic fundraising committee, said personal contributions and community fundraisers came within about $20,000 of the goal of $300,000 needed to keep a $450,000 federal grant.

It was enough to secure the remaining dollars in a loan from the Sanders County Community Development Corporation.

“We collected enough money now that our board can borrow the rest,” Flesch said. “Our financing is in place at this point.”

After papers are signed securing the grant, the clinic board will launch the remodeling of a temporary building to hold the clinic that serves 300 to 400 patients a month.

“As soon as the people are out of the clinic, they’re going to tear it down and start letting bids” for the new clinic, she said. “They’re hoping to be in it by next fall.”

Located on Main Street in Hot Springs, the clinic site rests between the Loafin’ Around Bakery and Fergie’s Pub.

Flesch credited a donation of $50,000 from Barb Gonder of Hot Springs with putting the campaign close enough to the target to borrow the rest. Gonder, a former Kalispell resident, made the contribution in time to save the $450,000 Community Development Block Grant for the clinic.

“Actually, she was the lady who made the first donation in memory of her husband Al Gonder — he passed away about a year ago,” Flesch said.

She said that Gonder has lived in Hot Springs off and on for 15 to 20 years. She and her husband sold their home in Hot Springs and moved to Kalispell for a time but returned when they missed the little town of about 500, including many retired people.

Gonder was one of a few large donors. According to Flesch, the campaign grew because of many donations of $25, $50 and $100.

“It doesn’t sound like much,” Flesch said. “But when you add it up, it grows really big.”

She said contributions came from the Kalispell area as well as Missoula. Money also rolled in from Eastern Montana and from the Troy mine.

“We had some from Florida and a couple from New York,” Flesch said.

She credited media stories about their unique fundraising efforts such as their “tired iron convoy to Missoula.” One story about the loads of old appliances, wrecked cars and rusting farm equipment hit the pages of major national newspapers and brought in donations.

“We’re still doing the tired iron,” Flesch said. “We’re taking in one to two loads a week.”

She told about a recent talent show benefit that appeared headed for disaster when half the talent came down with a severe cold and cough that hit the community.

In desperation, organizer Dale Carter headed to the Symes Hot Springs Hotel to recruit guests to perform. “He came up with a cellist from Spokane, mimes, all kinds of wonderful, wonderful things,” she said. “The talent show was three hours long. Everybody had a ball.”

To keep chipping away at the last $20,000, the town has more events planned, including an old-fashioned country auction and barbecue this spring. Flesch said they hope “to keep the money trickling in” during the coming months.

“Who knows? Maybe we can put some new chairs in the lobby,” she said with a laugh.

Flesch said the campaign has been a lot of work but had been very rewarding and has united the diverse community behind a cause. She called Hot Springs an eclectic little town with people spanning new agers, hippies, cowboys, Native Americans and ultra-conservative Christians.

“Everybody gets along fine,” she said. “It doesn’t matter who you are. It’s that old-fashioned get-behind-the-guy-who-needs-help kind of a thing. It’s a nice place to live.”

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.