EBS STAFF
The Department of Public Health and Human Services announced the launch of their annual Gifts with a Lift program. Now in its 73rd year, this program ensures every patient at the Montana State Hospital receives a gift this holiday season, according to a press release. The program is jointly coordinated with the National Alliance for Mental Illness Montana chapter, and relies exclusively on community support.
“Each year, the MSH Gifts with a Lift program helps brighten the holiday season for those who are away from family, friends and their communities,” Gifts with a Lift Coordinator Sherry Spear stated in the press release. “Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors, the program continues to be a great success year after year. The staff and patients at MSH cannot express enough how grateful we are for the kindheartedness of the people of our great state.”
MSH is Montana’s only publicly operated inpatient psychiatric hospital, providing treatment to adults with serious mental illnesses.
Gifts must be dropped off or mailed by Dec. 8 to ensure they arrive in time for the holidays. MSH is especially in need of new winter coats for men and women in sizes M–3X (larger sizes are preferred, excluding hoodies). Other gift suggestions include pocket games and books, socks, T-shirts and sweatshirts, cards, winter wear such as hats, gloves and jackets, magazines, slippers, blankets and throws, handheld AM/FM radios, and stationery.
Gifts mailed to the hospital should not be wrapped. To properly acknowledge all gracious donors, please be sure to include a return receipt along with your name and address with the gift.
Gifts or cash donations can be mailed to: Gifts with a Lift, c/o Sherry Spear, PO Box 300, Montana State Hospital, Warm Springs, MT 59756.
Individuals or service organizations interested in “adopting” a patient are encouraged to contact Spear at (406) 693-7296.
Gifts can also be dropped off at the following locations across Montana:
Anaconda
Anaconda/Deer Lodge County Courthouse
MSU Extension Office, Third Floor
800 Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Contact: Paula Arneson (406) 563-4035
Behavioral Health Division
301 S. Park Avenue, Suite 320
Helena, MT 59601
Contact: Cindy Dallas (406) 444-3907
Billings
Rainbow House
925 North 18th
Billings, MT 59101
Contact: Kathy Drinkwalter, (406) 252-7851
Drop off times – 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. M-F
Bozeman
The Help Center
699 Farmhouse Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715
Contact: Bozeman NAMI (406) 763-6270
Drop off times – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
Butte
Steele’s Warehouse
800 S Wyoming
Butte, MT 59701
Contact: Sherry Spear (406) 693-7296
Deer Lodge
Christ Fellowship Church
600 4th Street
Deer Lodge, MT 59722
Contact: Mary (214) 543-2811
Missoula
Contact: Shawn Gray (406)880-3173 – please call contact number below to coordinate pick up of donations
*All donations in Missoula must be received by Dec. 6
Warm Springs
Montana State Hospital PO Box 300 Warm Springs, MT 59756
Contact: Sherry Spear (406) 693-7296
