Attention SNAP Clients: DPHHS will issue full November SNAP benefits to EBT cards as soon as Saturday, November 15. Call 1-866-850-1556 or visit www.mybnft.com to check your card balance.

For the most current information about November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, please visit the SNAP webpage.

DPHHS is offering one-time incentive payments to recruit employees at Montana’s state-run health care facilities. For more information go to Work4DPHHS.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 19 2025

Contact:
Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov

Gifts with a Lift Program Returns to Spread Holiday Cheer to Montana State Hospital Patients

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) today announced the launch of the annual Gifts with a Lift program, now in its 73rd year. This program, which is jointly coordinated with the National Alliance for Mental Illness-MT (NAMI-MT), ensures every patient at the Montana State Hospital (MSH) receives a gift this holiday season.

Gifts with a Lift relies exclusively on the generous support of Montanans across the state and is deeply appreciated by the patients it serves.

“Each year, the MSH Gifts with a Lift program helps brighten the holiday season for those who are away from family, friends, and their communities,” said Sherry Spear, Gifts with a Lift coordinator. “Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors, the program continues to be a great success year after year. The staff and patients at MSH cannot express enough how grateful we are for the kindheartedness of the people of our great state.”

MSH is Montana’s only publicly operated inpatient psychiatric hospital, providing treatment to adults with serious mental illnesses.

Gifts must be dropped off or mailed by Dec. 8 to ensure they arrive in time for the holidays. MSH is especially in need of new winter coats for men and women in sizes M–3X (larger sizes are preferred; please exclude hoodies). Other gift suggestions include pocket games/books, socks, T-shirts/sweatshirts, cards, winter wear (such as hats, gloves, and jackets), magazines, slippers, blankets/throws, handheld AM/FM radios, and stationery.

Gifts mailed to the hospital should not be wrapped. To properly acknowledge all gracious donors, please be sure to include a return receipt along with your name and address with the gift.

Gifts or cash donations (checks payable to "Gifts with a Lift") can be mailed to: Gifts with a Lift, c/o Sherry Spear, PO Box 300, Montana State Hospital, Warm Springs, MT 59756.

Individuals or service organizations interested in “adopting” a patient are encouraged to contact Spear at (406) 693-7296.

Gifts can also be dropped off at the following locations across Montana:

Anaconda

Anaconda/Deer Lodge County Courthouse
MSU Extension Office, Third Floor
800 Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Contact: Paula Arneson, 406-563-4035

Billings

Rainbow House
925 North 18^thBillings, MT 59101
Contact: Kathy Drinkwalter, 406-252-7851
*Drop off times – 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. M-F

Bozeman
The Help Center
699 Farmhouse Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715
Drop off times - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
Contact: Bozeman NAMI (406)763-6270

Butte
Steele’s Warehouse
800 S Wyoming
Butte, MT 59701
Contact: Sherry Spear (406) 693-7296

Deer Lodge
Christ Fellowship Church
600 4^th Street
Deer Lodge, MT 59722
Mary (214)543-2811

Helena

Behavioral Health Division
301 S. Park Avenue, Suite 320
Helena, MT 59601
Contact: Cindy Dallas, 406-444-3907

Missoula
Shawn Gray – please call contact number below to coordinate pick up of donations
Contact: 406-880-3173
*All donations in Missoula must be received by Dec. 6

Warm Springs
Montana State Hospital PO Box 300 Warm Springs, MT 59756
Contact: Sherry Spear, 406-693-7296