Southwest Montana News

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced that donation boxes have been placed at various locations across Montana to collect holiday gifts for patients at Montana State Hospital (MSH). This initiative is part of the annual Gifts with a Lift program, which has been spreading holiday cheer to hospital patients for 71 years. The program ensures that every patient receives a gift during the holiday season.

Derek O’Brien, the MSH Gifts with a Lift coordinator, emphasized the importance of this program to patients. “Each year, the Montana State Hospital Gifts with a Lift program helps brighten the holiday season for those who are away from family and friends,” O’Brien said. “The program relies exclusively on generous donations from Montanans across the state to provide gifts to those receiving care at MSH. 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 how much they appreciate the support.”

The National Alliance for Mental Illness-MT and DPHHS jointly coordinate this effort. Suggested gift ideas include pocket games/books, socks, t-shirts/sweatshirts, cards, winter wear like hats and gloves, magazines, phone cards, batteries, slippers, blankets/throws, headphones, handheld AM/FM radios, postage stamps, and stationery. There is a specific need for winter coats in sizes M-3X.

Individuals or organizations interested in adopting a patient can contact O’Brien at (406) 693-7137. While mailed gifts should not be wrapped, donations of wrapping paper and gift boxes are welcome.

“Also, to properly acknowledge our generous program donors," O'Brien noted," please be sure to leave a return receipt as well as your name and address along with the gift.”

Gifts or cash donations can be sent to Gifts with a Lift c/o Derek O’Brien at PO Box 300 Warm Springs MT 59756 by December 8th. Checks should be made payable to: Gifts with a Lift.

Montana State Hospital is the only publicly operated inpatient psychiatric hospital in Montana providing treatment for adults referred from hospitals and mental health programs statewide.

Donation drop-off points include:

- Anaconda: MSU Extension Office

- Butte: Silver House

- Bozeman: Bozeman Daily Chronicle lobby

- Billings: Rainbow House

- Helena: Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division; NAMI Montana; Many Rivers Whole Health

- Missoula: Shawn Gray’s coordination required

- Warm Springs: Montana State Hospital

For specific details on each location's address or contact person refer back to DPHHS announcements or their website.