When Tragedy Strikes a Family
Stock photo.
The Park County Community Foundation cares deeply about our neighbors who have experienced unexpected and tragic losses, such as house fires or floods. We are frequently asked about available resources in these situations; the list of resources looks somewhat different from the times when large swaths of the county are experiencing a disaster. Although our grant funding goes directly to Park County nonprofits who are serving on the front lines of local needs, we can make these recommendations:
Park County: Greg Coleman, Park County Emergency Manager is a good starting place as he can assist with information about resources, how to contact other agencies, or how to access County resources. Call him at his office 406-222-4190 or at his cell 406-823-0823 or email gcoleman@parkcounty.org.
Red Cross: The Red Cross receives federal funds to address disaster situations, and Montana has a Regional Coordinator who is based in Missoula. To access temporary hotel vouchers or cash cards, call 1-800-RED-CROSS and ask to be assigned to a case worker. You will receive a call back and they will connect you with the regional coordinator.
Salvation Army: The Salvation Army has a regional base in Bozeman. Assistance from them runs through the Park County Ministerial Association which is a group of local pastors in Park County who help people in need. Call or text Pastor Darryl Brunson at 406-224-1774.
Expedition Church: The Expedition Church of Livingston seeks to walk alongside those in a moment of crisis. They will speak with you about the practical needs that you are facing, and try to assist you. Call or text Pastor Darryl Brunson at 406-224-1774 or email expeditionlivingston@gmail.com or go through their website https://www.expeditionmt.org/.
Community Closet: The Livingston-based Community Closet does make grants to individuals, although the assistance is not immediate. Their funding guidelines indicate that requests on behalf of individual residents for assisting with catastrophic incidences will be accepted. See https://www.communitycloset.org/funding
Livingston Food Resource Center: The Livingston Food Resource Center provides groceries, but also simple meals that can be cooked in a microwave which can be especially helpful for those in temporary hotel housing. https://livingstonfrc.org/
Loaves and Fishes: Volunteers at Loaves and Fishes in Livingston cook and serve dinner at their location on S. Main Street. They also have a “Community Room” pantry that offers groceries and baked goods. See their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LoavesAndFishesOfLivingstonMT/ or call (406) 222-4824
Montana 211: Montana 211 is a program that helps navigate access to human services. For those where the sudden family tragedy involves a loss of life and wish to identify grief counseling, call Montana 211 which is run by The Help Center at 421 East Peach, Bozeman, MT 59715. Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-888-586-3332 or 406-586-3333.
Livingston Healthcare: For information about the grief support group at Livingston HealthCare, see https://www.livingstonhealthcare.org/events/event-details/?event=35344 or for more information or to register, please contact Rebecca Sulages, LCSW at (406) 823-6888.
ASPEN: A sudden tragedy can lead to reliance on others and create situations that are not necessarily safe. Those who find themselves at risk of domestic abuse should reach out to them. ASPEN provides free, confidential direct services such as a 24 hour support line, emergency shelter, crisis counseling, support groups, legal advocacy, information & referrals, safety planning, emergency 911 phones, assistance with orders of protection, forensic medical exam support, community outreach, and educational programs. Call the 24/7 support line ASPEN 406-222-8154 or visit https://www.aspenmt.org/.
The Park County Community Foundation’s mission is “For the love of Park County, we inspire investment and leadership to cultivate resilient communities.” As part of keeping Park County strong, we provide funding and training for many of the local 501c3 nonprofits in Park County that provide services in a time of need.