Three groups put kids first
Across the country, folks gathered around tables on Thanksgiving in gratitude for the gracious gifts of good food, family and friends.
It’s hard for most of us to imagine what it’s like to be struggling in a toxic family dynamic.
Thankfully, there are three nonprofit agencies in the Flathead that care for the most vulnerable in our population — children who have been neglected and abused in their own homes.
Intermountain Providence Home, Child Bridge and CASA find these children a safe and healthy home environment where they can heal and thrive.
According to Intermountain director of communication Glenna Wortman-Obie, Intermountain was founded in 1909 in Helena. The agency serves more than 1,300 children each year at its clinic in Kalispell, offering mental health care and services, foster care and adoption services. Now Intermountain is building Providence Home residential care center here.
The Flathead chapter of Court Appointed Special Advocates trains volunteers to advocate in court on behalf of children who have been abused or neglected. Partnering is part of CASA’s nature.
“The facilitation of services for our children comes only through the combined efforts of social workers, service providers, foster families and biological families.” says Jamie Campbell, CASA’s executive director.
Child Bridge was launched four years ago by Mary and Steven Bryan.
The faith-based agency works with area churches to recruit and support families for children in need, the Bryans explain. While not an adoption agency, Child Bridge works with families to offer help in often challenging, complicated circumstances.
“No single organization can serve all the needs,” Bryan says. “Partnerships like this one are vital to ensuring all steps along the continuum of assisting abused and neglected children are being met.”
This year the three agencies are also joining to plan Intermountain’s annual Calling All Angels Christmas tea.
The guest speaker will be nationally known author Ashley Rhodes-Courter who, in her book “Three Little Words,” tells her compelling story of being raised in foster care and later adopted. Local book clubs are reading and discussing the book which, in turn, is raising awareness of and insight into the foster care system.
“How wonderful it would be if Calling All Angels creates women warriors for kids in need,” says Bryan. “It will be a success if it inspires women to be bold and grasp that there are many ways to make a difference for children in our community ... by giving, sharing the need, volunteering in some capacity, and praying.”
Calling All Angels will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the Hilton Garden Inn’s ballroom in Kalispell. For tickets, call 871-2393.
Benilda and Julio Delgado and Tim and Joyce Murphy wrote to thank the community for supporting a fundraiser for Kenny Gochanour last month at the Whitefish Moose Lodge.
Gochanour is battling scleroderma and is receiving kidney dialysis three times a week while awaiting a kidney transplant. The couples thanked the lodge, auctioneer Joe Warner and emcee Lin Akey, along with everyone who generously donated.
“It never ceases to amaze how this community continues to step up for one of their own in need,” they wrote. “All who attended and showed your love — words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation.”
Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.