COLUMN: Needy youths to get special stockings
Old St. Nick will be surprising about 80 high school students this year with Christmas stockings thanks to the generosity of local community members and merchants.
Nichole Heyer, homeless education liaison for school districts 5 (Kalispell) and 50 (Evergreen), runs the Heart Locker, a nonprofit program where students who need to fill the gaps in their nutrition as well as clothing needs, can come and “shop.”
For the Heart Locker, volunteer Sarah Safford crafted colorful, cozy little stockings that were then filled with donations by local businesses of fancy chocolates, a “guardian angel,” gift cards and more. Several local salons also generously donated certificates for free haircuts.
“Every component of these gifts, including the handmade stockings, came from people in our community that wanted these kids to have a special day over the long holiday break,” Heyer said. “For some of these students, school is more than just work, it offers two meals a day and a warm safe place to be.”
Heyer has had a busy and admittedly, stressful, year after taking over the Heart Locker. The unique program in Kalispell was started about three years ago by Ronda Stevens thanks to a homeless assistance grant that was awarded to five locations in Montana where the assessed need was greatest.
Stevens eventually moved on to another grant opportunity involving youth mental health. Heyer, who had been student-teaching at Kalispell Middle School, read the job description and, in her words, “was hooked,” so she applied for the liaison position.
“I really enjoyed teaching but this job fills my heart,” Heyer said. “I knew that I would have big shoes to fill and more students to help than I would know what to do with, but still was a bit unprepared,” Heyer said.
“I could not tell you how many hundreds of people have helped me do my job ... young students, moms, grandmas and grandpas, Girl Scout troops, 4-H clubs, churches, local small businesses, firefighters, the Flathead Food Bank and other nonprofit organizations, and so many others have made this a very successful year. We have helped hundreds of kids and let them know that all of us, the people of Kalispell, love having them as part of our community too.”
Back in October, the Women Who Wine Kalispell organization, together with the Flathead Community Foundation, donated $2,000 to the Heart Program.
“For some of these students, school is more than just work, it offers two meals a day and a warm, safe place to be, Heyer said, adding, “Life may not always be fair, but all of you have made this a better place for kids to grow. Thank you.”
To learn more about the program, visit www.kalispellheartprogram.org.
Your local United Way has been hard at work in the community this fall. A couple of recent programs had great results.
Together with AARP, the Community Shred event not only gave folks an easy, secure way to dispose of confidential documents but doubled as a food drive for the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry and Flathead Food Bank.
Rake Up the Flathead mobilized a battalion of Boy Scout troops, church and youth groups, and many other volunteers to pick up shovels or rakes and spruce up the yards of our seniors and disabled neighbors.
To learn more about how United Way changes lives in your community, visit unitedwaycares.org.
Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.