In spite of the hardships created December’s flooding and wind storms, there are many stories of local community members pulling together to support each other.

One is about a group that has lent a helping hand to Libby since 2022.

The LOR Foundation - Livability, Opportunity and Responsibility - is a private foundation that works with individuals and organizations to kick-start projects that benefit rural places in the Mountain West.

They have already completed a number of projects benefitting Libby and are far from done. Last summer, the group marked three years in Libby and $1.9 million in grants that have supported several dozen entities. By the end of the year, the total was more than $2 million.

Some were small, such as $171 for Jerry Dean Park, and as large as $30,000 (to Em Kayan Water and Sewer District, Lincoln County Health Department, Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana (CAPNWMT) and CASA of Lincoln County).

One of the first projects that LOR accomplished was improving the technology used by David Thompson Search and Rescue. It arose when young Ryker Webb went missing on June 3, 2022, in the Bull Lake area. 

Webb was found safe, but Thompson SAR’s two-way radios didn’t work well in Lincoln County’s rugged, mountainous terrain that interferes with the signals, making it difficult for volunteer rescuers to communicate beyond a few miles. The team realized it needed to address its technology problem and reached out to LOR for help.

A $28,000 grant resulted in 25 new radios and five repeaters that allow volunteers to communicate more efficiently.

The foundation has a budget of $200,000 per quarter.

When the severe weather struck south Lincoln County last month, the final quarter’s budget was exhausted, but the LOR Board worked to make $74,000 available for emergency funding.

“In light of the circumstances here, they saw a great need, freed up that money and we’re very thankful,” LOR Libby Community Officer Tabitha Viergutz said.

The money was used for providing water to the schools, buying chain saws for Libby’s Public Works Crew, a grant for a Mobile Star Links connection when the power went out, mold testing kits, well water testing kits, 50 emergency kits that included flashlights, batteries, water purification tablets, can openers, facemasks and handwarmers.

The county received several grants, totaling more than $54,000, that allowed it to buy the equipment and kits that were needed. 

The city was also able to buy a generator from Bigfork to keep the municipality’s truck building operating.

“What was neat was all the different solutions we received from local community members,” Viergutz said. “It really demonstrates the Libby Strong mindset people have here.”

LOR’s last regular grant in 2025 helped the local Area Agency on Aging. Some of the money was used for gas cards that seniors who had to travel longer distances because of the damaged or destroyed bridges.

Viergutz said LOR distributed $900,000 in 2025 in Libby and has increased its budget for 2026.

“We have no intention of leaving,” Viergutz said. “We would’ve left if we wouldn’t have continued to receive calls and requests. We’ll be here until June 2028.”

Viergutz has an office in Libby in Suite 6 at 417 Mineral Avenue.  

She can be reached there or contact her at 406-250-5218 or [email protected]. Also, see the foundation website at lorfoundation.org.

“I want people to contact me with project ideas so we can keep getting things done,” Viergutz said. “We’ll fund projects between $5 and $30,000, but $10,000 is kind of the sweet spot.”