Winter Warm Up connects families to services

The annual Winter Warm Up commmunity event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Gateway Community Center, 1203 U.S. 2 W., in Kalispell.

Co-sponsored by HIRE, the Project Homeless Committee and United Way, the event connects individuals, families and veterans to a wide variety of services. Attendees can receive free winter clothing, sleeping bags and blankets, food, books, health services, tax preparation, hair cuts, job and housing leads, pet services, ID replacement services, food, shelter and disability resources and more.

Free hot meals will be served at the Café Connect in the food court from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A gathering ceremony will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the food court.

Learning sessions will be available on financial information, parenting resources and children’s activities.

The annual Homeless Survey will be conducted throughout the day.

Everyone is welcome. Call 752-7266 for further information, to donate or to volunteer.

Bigfork holds Un-decorate Day

Un-Decorate Day for Bigfork is Saturday, Jan. 28. The village “elves” will take down the holiday decorations, garland and trees downtown.

Volunteers should meet at 8 a.m. in front of the Bigfork Inn where coffee, hot cocoa and doughnuts will be served before work begins.

Those who have a truck and would like to help haul garland and trees to the elk farm south of Bigfork, contact Michele Shapero at 406-407-5748.

Whitefish foundation grant program

The Whitefish Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for the 2017 Community Grant Program. Funding guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website at www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.

The application will open Feb. 1 and must be submitted on or by 5 p.m. Feb. 28.

Application for the Community Grant Program is open to current 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in Flathead County. Priority is given to nonprofits serving the Whitefish area.

Applications must be submitted online through the Foundation’s web-based platform. Nonprofits can apply for up to $4,000 in funding for programs, capital needs and services. Grant awards will be announced in May. Nonprofits that participated in the 2016 Great Fish Challenge will not be eligible for the 2017 Community Grant Program.

Nonprofits interested in participating in the 2017 Great Fish Challenge should visit the Foundation website for more information. The 2017 Challenge will take place July 20 through Sept. 15. Application for participation will take place April 3 through April 28 and is open to nonprofits that are located in Flathead County. Forty-five nonprofits will be selected for participation in the 2017 Challenge.

For more information about the Whitefish Community Foundation’s grant programs, contact the Whitefish Community Foundation at 863-1781, contact@whitefishcommunityfoundation.org, or visit www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.

The Whitefish Community Foundation is dedicated to fostering philanthropy, building endowments and helping donors and nonprofits benefit the local community.

Girls on the Run registration

Girls on the Run of Flathead Valley’s registration for the spring season is open through Jan. 31.

Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that inspires girls in third through fifth grade to be joyful, healthy and confident. The volunteer-led program brings together groups of eight to 15 girls for a 10-week program that encourages personal development, team building and connection to the community.

Each team will meet two times a week for 75 to 90 minutes after school and participate in research-based lessons that use dynamic discussions and fun running games to teach life skills.

The season will culminate in a 5K event that brings together family, friends and community members to celebrate the girls’ growth throughout the season. The 5K is scheduled for May 7 at Flathead Community College and will be the program’s most significant fundraiser of the year.

The program fee for the spring 2017 season is $150, and scholarship funding is available to those who qualify. The program fee includes registration for the 5K event, two Girls on the Run T-shirts, a water bottle, a 5K finisher’s medallion, and snacks at every practice. More information about the program and registration can be found on the Girls on the Run of Flathead Valley’s website at www.gotrflathead.org.

Farm life art contest

In recognition of National Agriculture Week (National Agriculture Day is March 21), WIFE (Montana Women Involved in Farm Economics) invites Montana’s school children to express their ideas on farm life by participating in WIFE’s 31st statewide calendar art contest.

Winning entries grades K through eighth will be awarded a cash prize at the first place ($30), second place ($20), and third place ($10), levels in each grade’s division. Two Honorable Mention places in each grade will be awarded certificates. Of the 45 winners, pictures representing all grades and different areas of Montana will be considered for the calendar, but only 25 pictures can be used on the calendar. Those winners whose pictures are used will also receive a calendar.

All entries are to be done horizontally on 8 ½- by 11-inch white paper with dark, black lead pencil or black pen (no markers) to make a good, clear picture for the calendar.

Any aspect of agriculture that is of interest to the students may be drawn. Any depiction of alcohol or tobacco will not be accepted.

The student’s name, grade, school, address, town and zip code should be clearly printed in a corner on the back of their picture.

No entries can be returned, but WIFE may display or use students’ artwork for various WIFE projects throughout the state. Entries must be postmarked on or before April 15. Artwork will be judged on the basis of originality.

Send art entries to Gladys Walling, P.O. Box 55, Winifred MT 59489.

Call 406-462-5330 for more information.