Originally published in the Daily Inter Lake on January 25, 2026.
A senior citizen found himself staring out the window of his Flathead Valley mobile home, unable to step outside after a medical event left him in a wheelchair. What he needed most wasn’t medicine — it was a ramp. Within days, a local nonprofit built one and restored something priceless: his independence.
As the Flathead Valley grows older, we are facing unique challenges, and how we care for our seniors reveals the true strength of our community. Across the valley, nonprofits are stepping up to ensure that aging means living with dignity, friendship and support.
For the gentleman in the wheelchair, it was Senior Mobile Home Repair that answered the call. The nonprofit helps low-income seniors with critical home repairs, ensuring they can remain safely in their homes. Volunteers routinely fix heating systems, repair leaks and eliminate safety hazards — simple acts that allow older adults to stay in the places they love.
After losing her husband, a local woman found herself struggling with isolation and grief. Her family shared how she discovered My Glacier Village, a nonprofit that connects older adults to each other for support and companionship. Today, her calendar is filled with bowling, coffee dates and fitness classes. The beauty of My Glacier Village lies in reciprocity — members are not only recipients of help but also contributors, caregivers and friends.
At Shepherd’s Hand, volunteers understand that practical help and human connection often go hand in hand. When an elderly woman in Kalispell struggled with daily chores because of chronic pain, a volunteer stepped in to vacuum, do laundry and change linens. More importantly, she offered companionship and conversation to someone who had been spending too many hours alone.
For seniors who can no longer live independently, Immanuel Living offers a safe, welcoming home and compassionate, around-the-clock care at The Retreat. Behind the scenes, the Immanuel Foundation raises funds to renew shared spaces and private rooms, purchase critical equipment like lift chairs, and support the dedicated employees who care for residents.
A newer organization, Flathead Senior Living Community, is taking a bold approach. Its goal is to acquire land and lower the development costs of a senior-living campus that would offer a continuum of housing and care from independent living to memory care and hospice.
At Whitefish Community Foundation, we are honored to support nonprofits like these through our Community Grant Program — open now and accepting applications until February 19. Since 2000, this program has distributed $3.5 million to nonprofits in the greater Flathead Valley, and last year, 64 organizations received more than $385,000. We are deeply grateful to our Circle of Giving donors, whose annual gifts make these grants possible.
Caring for our seniors is about more than meeting basic needs — it’s about honoring the people who built the communities we love. When we invest in nonprofits that serve older adults, we invest in the values of compassion, connection and dignity that define the Flathead Valley. Together, we can make sure every generation in our valley has the opportunity to thrive.
Alan Davis is President & CEO of Whitefish Community Foundation. He can be reached at alan@whitefishcommunityfoundation.org or (406) 863-1781.
Back to all articles
