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Recent News at RMDC

Young @ Heart

July 9, 2008

When so many things work so well, we want Helena to know. On Wednesday, July 2, the Myrna Loy Center for the Performing Arts offered two special matinee showings of "Young @ Heart" for Helena area Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) participants. For the rest of this story, click here.

Feed'N'Fun

June 9, 2008

Lunch served at noon Monday through Friday at Warren School, Lincoln Park, Memorial Park and Sherron Park; and Willow Corner at Carroll College (Monday-Thursday only from June 9 to July 17). Those 18 years and under eat free. For more info and activities call Shawna at Rocky Mountain Development Council, 457-7361.

Thanks for the Smiles

June 2, 2008

For the past two years the Montana Dental Association, its executive director Mary Kelly McCue, and doctors Nate Ehlers and Shal LaVoie — past presidents of the Fifth District Dental Society — have supplied Rocky Mountain Development Council Head Start’s 248 3- to 5-year-olds with toothbrushes. For the rest of this story, click here.

Shining Examples

May 30, 2008

Between the start and finish of the workday Thursday, 40 homes in the Helena area received outdoor makeovers.

In its eighth year, the community’s Spirit of Service day involved some 278 workers from eight employers around town, taking a day to paint, rake, trim, prune, edge, caulk and generally clean up the yards and outside of homes for 40 seniors unable to complete the work themselves. For the rest of this story, click here.

RSVP Volunteers

May 7, 2008

I am writing to express the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program’s heartfelt appreciation for our dedicated corps of volunteers. For the rest of this story, click here.

Dignity Awards to be Presented Saturday

May 2, 2008

Curt Chisholm, a Helena man who has coordinated the National Alliance on Mental Illness Montana Walk for several years, will receive this year’s Beautiful Minds Dignity Award on Saturday, May 3, at the Beautiful Minds Dignity Dinner and Auction. For the rest of this story, click here.

Head Start Basket Fundraiser Slated

April 23, 2008

Rocky Mountain Development Council’s Head Start is all about arming families with tools to help their children succeed in learning and throughout life, according to Carrie Reynolds, parent involvement coordinator for Head Start.

One way it accomplishes that is supplying education materials to families involved in Head Start, which is paid for through fundraising.

The third annual Eggstravaganza is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Valley Farms and the hope is to raise $25,000 to support family education. For the rest of this article, click here.

Entries Sought for Youth Art Show for Mental Health Awareness

April 22, 2008

The Helena Area Kids Management Authority is seeking entries for a youth art show to promote children’s mental health awareness.

The event will feature youth art that raises awareness or reduces stigma about children’s mental health disorders, or captures or depicts the importance of youth, especially those with a mental health problem, thriving in the community.

Art and entry forms must be recieved by May 2.

All work will be displayed the week of May 6-11 at ExplorationWorks.

Registration forms will be available on the ExplorationWorks Web site, www.explorationworks.org. For more information, call the Kids Management Authority at 442-1236 extension 105.

Mental Health Care Progressing, but Long Road Remains

April 14, 2008

Once again our community has been touched by the death of someone whose life was affected by mental illness.

It is time that we as a community unite to say enough is enough. Too many lives are lost to suicide; too many families are devastated by struggles with mental illness. The personal and economic costs are staggering. For the rest of this article, click here.

Clinic Offers Help for Homeowners in Crisis

April 6, 2008

The subprime mortgage crisis and subsequent boom in foreclosures haven’t been seen in Montana to the extent they have in some other parts of the country, but local officials aren’t taking any chances. For the rest of this story, click here.

Spirit of Service

April 3, 2008

It’s almost time for Helena’s eighth annual Spirit of Service.

On May 22, hundreds of volunteers from local business and nonprofit organizations will spend their day doing yard work or minor exterior home maintenance for homeowners in the Helena and East Helena areas. For the rest of this story, click here.

Pennies for Progress

February 20, 2008

The Pennies for Progress committee thanks the Helena School District and local businesses for their involvement in this month’s 10 Million Penny Campaign! For the rest of this story, click here.

Pennies and Inspiration

February 17, 2008

Last fall, a parent of a future student came to meet with me about “Pennies for Progress,” a local and global effort to reduce poverty through education, based on the book Three Cups of Tea written by Greg Mortenson.

She gave me a copy of the book and asked me to read it, hoping that I would be as inspired as she and a group of volunteers were. For the rest of this story, click here.

RMDC to Have Food for Seniors

January 22, 2008

The Rocky Mountain Development Council will have supplemental foods available to Helena-area senior citizens this week.

The food will be available at the Helena Food Share, located at 1616 Lewis. There is no charge for the products. For the rest of the story, click here.

Filled Stockings

January 18, 2008

Each year when we place our Empty Stocking requests, we do it with hope and trust in the generosity of our neighbors.

We have always seen the best of people. This year again brought a generous outpouring of gifts and goodwill to seniors in our community. Each and every gift given was received with gratitude. These gifts are much more than nice things — they are reminders to the recipients that they are not alone. Thank you, Helena, for your thoughtfulness.

Please remember to call us if you know of a senior (60+) who may need services. We can be reached at 457-7368 or 1-800-551-3191.

RMDC Thankful

January 17, 2008

Rocky Mountain Development Council staff and Helena Senior Center members extend heartfelt thanks to the Helena branch of the Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Tolle, and Dietrich Law Firm for their recent donation to the Helena Senior Center.

The 13 gently used but elegant and functional conference room chairs have transformed our center parlor into a welcoming and updated space. What a wonderful example of “community recycling” that makes a great difference in the lives of Helena’s older adults.

Marcella Walter
RMDC — Area IV Agency on Aging
Senior Center Coordinator
Information and Assistance and SHIP Counselor

Eagles Manor III Residences Update

January 16, 2008

The Eagle Manor III Residences project is under construction and as of January 15, 2008 is approximately 30 % complete. Please see the architectural rendering of the completed building and photos below of the construction in progress. When completed later this year it will house 30 very comfortable one-bedroom units all accessible, affordable housing designed to accommodate low and very-low income seniors, aged 62 and older, and other adults with special needs. All of the units and the common areas will be visitable and handicap-adaptable. A full half (15) of the units will be handicap accessible. For more on this, click here.

RMDC Program Offers Friendships to Help
Heal Mentally Ill Adults

January 15, 2008

A new program Helena’s Rocky Mountain Development Council is offering a new program that aims to bring healing to the mentally ill through friendships.

Compeer is an international program that matches those in recovery from mental illness with a volunteer from the community. For the rest of this story, click here.

Almost as Good as Mom's

January 13, 2008

After an illness and a hospital stay in 2006, Dorothy Link's family decided to sign her up for the Rocky Mountain Development Council's home-delivery service, which brings a hot meal to her home five days a week.

Link said she's doing better now, but she appreciates the generous portions - sometimes it's enough for two meals - and the short, friendly conversations that come with the food. For the rest of the story, click here.

Head Start Thankful

January 13, 2008

Rocky Mountain Development Council Head Start would like to publicly thank our community for their generous donations this Christmas.

Through these donations many Head Start children and families had their needs met by receiving food, clothing, books and toys. We especially thank Mountain West Bank, Kiwanis Club of Helena, the Children’s Safety Bureau, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, and the private individuals who adopted families for Christmas. Also thank you to the individuals who answered our program’s needs listed in the IR’s Empty Stocking. Once again we are touched and grateful for Helena’s generosity.

Rocky Mountain Development Council
200 South Cruse
P.O. Box 1717
Helena, MT 59624
(406)447-1680
1-800-356-6544
FAX (406)447-1629

Rocky's commitment is to improving quality of life, especially for low income members of our communities.