Gifts With A Lift program spreads holiday cheer to Montana State Hospital patients

Press release

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that donation boxes have been set up at various locations across the state to receive holiday gifts to benefit Montana State Hospital 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 68 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.

“This program means the world to MSH patients, and helps brighten their day,” he said. “And, it’s been successful due to the amazing generosity of Montana residents, who are always there to help out their fellow citizens.”

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.

The program is jointly coordinated by the National Alliance for Mental Illness Montana and DPHHS.

Ideas for gift suggestions include, but are not limited to the following: Pocket games/books, socks, T-shirts and sweatshirts, cards, winter hats and adult winter gloves, magazines, fanny packs, phone cards, jackets, craft kits, batteries, slippers, blankets and 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.

People 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 Dec. 15. People should make checks payable to Gifts With A Lift.

Gifts can also be dropped off at any of the following locations:

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Courthouse

MSU Extension Office, Third Floor

800 Main St.

Anaconda, MT  59711

NAMI Montana

1331 Helena Ave.

Helena, MT 59601

Addictive and Mental Disorders Division-DPHHS

100 N. Park Ave., Ste. 300

Helena, MT  59601

Center for Mental Health

900 North Jackson Helena, MT 59601

Montana State Hospital

PO Box 300 Warm Springs, MT 59756

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

2820 W. College St.

Bozeman, MT  59771