Whitefish Lids for Kids has been quietly handing out ski and snowboard helmets to children who need them two years now.

RE/MAX of Whitefish spearheaded the program that began last winter bringing on Mann Mortgage, Flathead Premier Title Company and Sportsman and Ski Haus. Together the businesses purchased 100 helmets that they’ve been giving out to children who need them.

Monte Gilman, owner of the real estate company, said the effort is just one of the many ways his company and its agents give back to the community.

“It’s free and the kids get really excited to get a brand new helmet,” he said. “Skiing can be expensive and a family that’s wanting to ski should have a helmet for their kids.”

Gilman, who previously worked as a ski instructor, had the idea to create the program so he approached the other companies involved to come on board. Sportsman secured a discount on the helmets from Smith, and the businesses pooled their money to purchase the initial set of helmets.

Gilman says he expects this winter he’ll give out the final helmet from that first 100, and then hopes to purchase more to keep the program going.

Helmets are provided free to elementary and middle school-aged children challenged by the cost of entering snow sports. Each Thursday from 3-5 p.m., those needing helmets can stop by the RE/MAX office at 509 East Sixth Street in downtown Whitefish.

Gilman points out that purchasing used equipment is often the way parents afford to outfit their children for ski season, but that’s not a viable option when it comes to a helmet.

“It’s expensive to get kids into skiing and this is an area where we didn’t want people to have to worry about the cost,” he said.

Skiers and snowboarders end up being admitted to the hospital for head injuries more often than for any other injury, according to an article by the Boston Children’s Hospital. Falling is the No. 1 cause of head injuries and collisions with non-moving objects such as trees and poles are the second most frequent cause, according to the article.

Gilman says his son got a concussion while skiing while wearing a helmet, but the injury could have been much worse without the helmet.

“The head is so important,” he said. “We wanted to do this program so we could help protect kids' heads for free.”

Gilman says he has also been looking into expanding the program to include bike helmets for free given away in summer.

For more information, contact RE/MAX of Whitefish at 863-3400.