LETTER: Please support Pay It Forward

The measure of a community is not its fancy houses or booming business district — but rather how it treats its least powerful citizens, particularly children and people with special needs.

As parents of a son struggling with a devastating form of epilepsy, we believe that Lori Briggs’ Pay It Forward Child and Family Services program in Kalispell is the kind of community-based support program that makes an enormous difference. Pay It Forward is unique and fills a crucial void in our community.

Guided by high levels of professionalism and equally deep portions of compassion, Briggs strives to support the entire child.

All children deserve to have their needs met and deserve a chance at happiness and success. They deserve to be accepted “where they are.” Children will thrive when they are surrounded by peers who appreciate them, by adults who nurture them, and are given opportunities to succeed according to their natural abilities and gifts. This is certainly what we’ve seen with our son under Lori’s guidance.

The results extend far beyond the lives of these kids themselves. These children will enjoy better lives by learning impulse control, focusing on behavior, and self-esteem. In addition, life will be better for their families, their schools and the entire community. Lori’s mission is to pass these skills on to kids, as well as their teachers and parents.

Please make a difference and support Pay It Forward in the Flathead Valley today (Pay It Forward Child & Family Services, 110 Fourth St. W. Suite 4, Kalispell MT 59901). These kids need and appreciate your support. —Ben Long and Karen Nichols, Kalispell