Originally published in the Daily Inter Lake on May 24, 2026.
For many caregivers in the Flathead Valley, caring for a loved one with dementia can become an around-the-clock role, one that is as emotionally demanding as it is meaningful. What’s often missing is time to rest.
Flathead Respite Care is working to change that.
This year, they received a $7,000 Community Grant through Whitefish Community Foundation as part of $524,500 recently awarded to 79 local nonprofits. Made possible by the Circle of Giving, the core group of donors who give $5,000 or more annually to support the grant programs and mission of the Foundation, the Community Grants help address a broad range of needs including senior services, mental health support, food access, youth programs, and conservation programs.
For Flathead Respite Care, that support helps provide something simple but essential: a break for caregivers.
“This funding strengthens our ability to provide meaningful, socially engaging respite for individuals living with dementia while giving caregivers essential time to rest and recharge. With this support, we can continue expanding access, reducing isolation, and bringing dignity, connection, and moments of joy to families throughout our community,” said Susan Moore, Board President of Flathead Respite Care.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s a reminder that mental health support takes many forms. For caregivers, it can mean a much-needed break. For seniors, it can mean connection, activity, and companionship. For families navigating difficult diagnoses or end-of-life care, it can mean knowing they do not have to face those challenges alone.
Among the first-time grant recipients this year are organizations focused on supporting seniors, caregivers, and families during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Graceful Days End of Life Home received a $2,000 grant to provide end-of-life training for volunteers, while Flathead Association of Senior Citizens received $5,000 to support its Warm It Up Program.
Together, organizations like these are responding to growing needs across our region. These needs often happen quietly behind closed doors, carried by family members, friends, and caregivers doing their best to support loved ones.
Nineteen organizations received their first Community Grant from Whitefish Community Foundation this year, an encouraging sign of how WCF grant programs continue to evolve alongside community needs and strengthen the work nonprofits are doing every day.
Whether it’s providing respite for caregivers, helping seniors stay connected, or supporting families at the end of life, nonprofits across the Flathead Valley remind us that caring for others is community work, and small acts of support can make a lasting difference.
Alan Davis is President & CEO of Whitefish Community Foundation. In 2025, the Foundation granted $21.5 million to nonprofits. He can be reached at alan@whitefishcommunityfoundation.org or (406) 863-1781.
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