Special Friends helps people overcome disabilities
Before becoming involved with Special Friends, Kimberly Davis spent most of her time alone in her apartment, but now she has blossomed into an extrovert with many friends.
“I was shy to go [to Special Friends] but a friend told me not to be afraid, so I wasn’t — not too much,” she said. “Once I started getting used to getting out of my apartment, it became easier and easier. I’ve made about 50 friends through the program. In my whole life before, I’d only had about five friends.”
Special Friends is a United Way member agency for people with a variety of disabilities.
Designed to enhance the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, the program has the goal of promoting their rights, dignity and full community inclusion.
Assistance is provided in financial management, medical and housing matters, as well as crisis intervention and social interactions.
“It’s an awesome program. I love going to it,” Davis said. “They’re all very positive. It’s a positive, positive atmosphere.”
Davis has Tourette’s Syndrome and has become an advocate for people with disabilities through the Special Friends program.
“It really helps people understand. I was teased growing up. Most of us were,” she said. “We’re humans, too. We like to socialize, we like to do new things. We’re able to do things. We help people understand our disabillities. We like to have fun, too.”
Special Friends is one of the many agencies and services that benefit from the local United Way campaign.
Great Things Happen When We Live United is the theme of the 2015 fund drive, which benefits a variety of nonprofit agencies throughout Northwest Montana.
The monetary goal is $850,000 for the campaign that continues through Dec. 31.
A recurring theme of the campaign is building, connecting and strengthening the community, focusing on the difference that an individual can make to help meet everyday needs of everyday people.
Donations to the annual fund drive benefit United Way member agencies and services in Flathead County, serving thousands of local individuals and families with a variety of needs. Last year, United Way member agencies helped 50,873 people in need. Ninety-nine percent of all money raised stays in local communities.
Current member agencies are Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, CASA For Kids, Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Literacy Center of Northwest Montana, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center and the Violence Free Crisis Line and Abbie Shelter.
Services supported by the United Way include Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow, United Way 2-1-1 Montana Database Project, Grocery Delivery Program, Teens in Crisis, AARP and VITA Tax Service, Best Beginnings Community Council, Good Grief Camp and the United Way Volunteer Center.
The United Way also supports emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana: Bread Basket, Community Harvest Food Bank, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Helping Hands Fund, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Libby Food Pantry, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Meal Program, Samaritan House and Troy Food Pantry.
Donors may choose how to donate, including cash, payroll deductions, charging to credit cards, direct billing or automatic bank transfers. Donors also may designate which member agencies or local affiliated partner agencies or the Montana Shares Federation they want to receive their gifts.
For more information on the United Way campaign, call 752-7266. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 7217, Kalispell, MT 59904.