FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 15, 2022
Contact: Jon Ebelt, Public Information Officer, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov
Chuck Council, Communications Specialist, DPHHS, (406) 444-4391, (406) 461-8367
hcouncil@mt.gov
The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced today that donation boxes have been set up at various locations across the state to receive holiday gifts to benefit Montana State Hospital (MSH) patients.
The effort is part of the annual Gifts With A Lift program that has played an instrumental role in spreading holiday cheer to patients for the past 70 years. The program ensures that all state hospital patients have a gift this holiday season.
MSH Gifts With A Lift coordinator George Sich said the program is very important to patients. “The program is such a vital part of the holiday season at MSH,” Sich said. “It’s a great event for both patients and staff. And, because of the unwavering generosity from Montana residents, the program continues to be successful year after year.”
The program is jointly coordinated by the National Alliance for Mental Illness-MT and DPHHS.
Ideas for gift suggestions include but are not limited to the following: Pocket games/books, socks, T-Shirts/sweatshirts, cards, winter hats/adult winter gloves, magazines, phone cards, jackets, craft kits, batteries, slippers, blankets/ throws, headphones, handheld AM/FM radios, postage stamps and stationery. MSH is especially in need of winter coats for men and women in sizes M – 3X. (Larger sizes preferred, hoodies will not be accepted.)
Individuals or service organizations interested in ‘adopting’ a patient are encouraged to contact Sich at 406-693-7086.
Gifts mailed to the hospital should not be wrapped; however, donations of wrapping paper and gift boxes are welcome. “Please include a name and address in the package and a return receipt so we may acknowledge the arrival of your gifts,” Sich said.
Gifts or cash donations can be mailed to Gifts With A Lift, c/o George Sich, PO Box 300, Montana State Hospital, Warm Springs, MT 59756. In order to arrive in time for the holidays, gifts should be dropped off or mailed by December 9. Please make checks payable to: Gifts With A Lift.
MSH is the only publicly operated inpatient psychiatric hospital in the state. It provides treatment to adults who have serious mental illnesses and who are referred from hospitals, mental health programs, and district courts from across the state.
Gifts can also be dropped off at any of the following locations:
Anaconda
Anaconda/Deer Lodge County Courthouse
MSU Extension Office, Third Floor
800 Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Contact: Paula Arneson, 406-563-4035
Bozeman
Bozeman Daily Chronicle, front Lobby
2820 W. College St.
Bozeman, MT 59718
Drop off times- 8am to 5pm, M-F
Contact: Marla Goodman, 406-581-1375
Billings
Rainbow House
925 North 18th
Billings, MT 59101
Contact: Kathy Drinkwater, 406-252-7851
*Drop off times – 9 am – 3 pm M-F
Helena
NAMI Montana
1331 Helena Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Contact: Colleen Rahn, 406-443-7871
Many Rivers Whole Health
900 North Jackson
Helena, MT 59601
Contact: Jennifer Preble, 406-324-7330
Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division
100 North Park Avenue, Suite 300
Helena, MT 59601
Contact: Cindy Dallas, 406-444-3907
Missoula
Shawn Gray – please call contact number below to drop off donations
2685 Palmer Street, Suite E
Missoula, MT 59801
Contact: 406-880-3173
*All donations in Missoula must be received by 12/6/21
Warm Springs
Montana State Hospital PO Box 300 Warm Springs, MT 59756
Contact: George Sich, 406-693-7086
