Eagles Club donates $59,000 to non-profits

The North Valley Eagles Club in Columbia Falls gave back to the community in a big way last week. It donated $59,000 to nine local non-profit community service organizations.

The beneficiaries included the Columbia Falls Food Bank, North Valley Search and Rescue, Wounded Warriors of the Flathead Valley, Wings, Columbia Falls Boys and Girls Club, Christian Lighthouse Home for Developmentally Delayed Adults, Project Hope, A Ray of Hope homeless shelter and the Kalispell Veterans Food Bank.

Many of the organizations were on hand to receive their donations.

"You don't know how much this means," said Dottie Maitland, of Lighthouse Christian Home.

Brace Hayden, of Wings, an organization that provides funds to cancer patients for expenses beyond what insurance will cover, such as travel, lodging and meals, said the $7,000 donation would be instrumental in helping the organization's finances. Wings paid out more in 2010 that it received, he said.

Hayden noted one individual they helped this year was sleeping in his car while getting cancer treatment because he couldn't afford lodging. Wings was able to help the man.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Club started in Columbia Falls in 1984 and is part of a national organization, club president Gary Motichka said. One hundred percent of the money the club raises over expenses goes to local non-profits.