Our most important obligation

The process of running for office is indeed a unique experience requiring hard work, dedication and the willingness to listen and learn. The opportunity to meet fascinating people and learn of the unselfish service they provide our communities are two great side benefits. Jim FitzGerald, executive director, Intermountain Children's Home (ICH), is a great example.

While in Helena recently, my wife Janet and I stopped by to meet Jim and learn of the tremendous work that he and his staff of professionals do for youth that would otherwise not have the chance to better themselves and partake of the joys and opportunities of our society. Simply put, ICH, through its Helena campus and a few satellite facilities, offers some 90 kids between ages 8 and 12 the opportunity to overcome some of the worst horror stories of abuse and neglect imaginable. Parents consumed by drug and alcohol abuse are bad enough, but the real tragedy is the terrible cost paid by their innocent children. To address this challenge and give these children the start they were denied in life, they are first treated in the closest thing to a family environment an institution can provide. Next, when ready, generally within about 22 months, children are placed with loving families who courageously step in and give them the start in life that they deserved in the first place, but sadly never received.

There is an economic benefit to all of this. Had the children been left untreated and unloved to enter adulthood with the severe trauma that was forced upon them, many would eventually end up in prison or some other institution—and we have ample evidence about how very expensive that is for all of us. More importantly, there is a very human side to the story—the joy of giving a fighting chance to disadvantaged children who through no fault of their own were set on life's course without the emotional tools to deal with it.

Like most organizations of its type, ICH is under funded and relies on donations, endowments, and meager Medicaid payments to survive. Money is tight, and they do not come close to meeting the complete need that is out there. Your help is needed. I realize that most of us are stretched for money too. The demands are many—charities, taxes, education for our children, living expenses, and yes, political candidates such as myself, who depend on your support. As for the latter, if you can only write one check, do not send it to me. Send it to ICH, or any of a number of other similar institutions throughout Montana who are doing the Lord's work for these children. The Intermountain Children's Home can be reached at the following: 500 South Lamborn, Helena, Montana 59601 | (Tel.) 406-442-7920 | 800-200-9112. They need and deserve your help. For additional information, visit their Web site http://www.intermountain.org/index.html

Don Loranger

SD 5 candidate

Bigfork