Laura “Jane” Burkhart never thought she would need help from a homeless shelter. She was making a good living as a long-haul trucker and had a cozy apartment in Sacramento for the times she wasn’t on the road.

A series of circumstances, including a car accident that seriously injured her daughter and son-in-law, left her in need of help, which she found at Samaritan House in Kalispell.

After her daughter’s car wreck, she traveled to Kalispell to help, and she wasn’t able to get truck-driving jobs in the area. The home where she was staying was being sold and she didn’t have enough resources to rent an apartment.

“As a last resort, I went to Samaritan House and asked if I could stay for the weekend,” Gray said.  “Amazingly, Samaritan House opened their doors to me.”

Samaritan House provides food, housing, resources and case management for homeless people. In 2013, Samaritan house served 34,860 meals and cared for 1,350 people, including nearly 200 families and 225 veterans. 

Samaritan House is just one of the many agencies and services that benefit from the local United Way campaign. 

“Say Yes! Change Lives, Give Hope, Live United” is the theme of the 2014 United Way fund drive that benefits a variety of nonprofit agencies that help our neighbors throughout Northwest Montana.

The monetary goal is $700,000. The campaign continues through Dec. 31.

Donations to the annual fund drive benefit United Way member agencies and services in Flathead County, serving thousands of local individuals and families with a variety of needs. Last year, United Way member agencies helped 48,125 people in need. Ninety-nine percent of all money raised stays in local communities to help local citizens. 

Samaritan House was there for Burkhart when she needed help, and soon she will be among the 84 percent of clients who are no longer homeless when they leave.

Burkhart found a job driving a school bus for Treasure State Transit and will be able to move out “as soon as I get my first paycheck.” She found an apartment near her daughter in Hungry Horse and can ride back and forth to work with another Treasure State employee.

She will never forget her time at Samaritan House and the help she found there.

“They’re really doing a good job,” she said. “They’re warm, friendly, professional and happy. They’re just really amazing.”

Donors may choose how to give to United Way, including cash, payroll deductions, charging to a credit card, direct billing or automatic bank transfers. Donors also may designate which member agencies, local affiliated partner agencies or the Montana Shares Federation they want to receive their gifts. For more information on the United Way campaign, call 752-7266. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 7217, Kalispell, MT 59904.

In addition to Samaritan House, current United Way member agencies are Big Brothers and Sisters, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of Glacier Country, CASA For Kids, Eagle Transit,  Flathead CARE, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Girl Scouts, Head Start, Literacy Center of Northwest Montana, Mental Health Crisis Line, Nurturing Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, Samaritan House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center and the Violence Free Crisis Line and Abbie Shelter.  

Services supported by the United Way include Disaster Care Services, Gateway Community Center, Leaders of Tomorrow, United Way 2-1-1 Montana Database Project, Senior Grocery Delivery Program, Teens in Crisis, AARP and VITA Tax Service, Best Beginnings Community Council, Good Grief Camp, the United Way Volunteer Center and Youth Suicide Prevention Project.

The United Way also supports the following emergency food and shelter programs in Northwest Montana: Bread Basket, Community Harvest Food Bank, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Youth Home, Helping Hands, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Libby Food Pantry, Mission Valley Food Pantry, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, Salvation Army Meal Program, Samaritan House and Troy Food Pantry.

The United Way also provides community resources including the annual Answer Book, a counseling directory and a Volunteer Center.