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Governor Urges Donations To Bigger Sky Kids

Bigger Sky Kids of Wolf Point received quite a positive shot in the arm when Gov. Greg Gianforte encouraged support for the after- school program on the eighth day of the governor’s 12 Days of Giving campaign last week.

“We are ecstatic to be recognized,” Barbara Olson, program director, said.

In a press release, Gianforte encouraged Montanans to support non-profits like Bigger Sky Kids in rural communities.

“We want all Montana students to have access to a high-quality education and supportive environment that prepares them well for their future,” Gianforte said.

Bigger Sky Kids meets three days a week at First Lutheran Church for fourth through eighth graders. The program started in 2018.

“In our remote community, there was no youth organization that offered regular after-school activities. Simply put, for many of our kids, there was nowhere to go and nothing to do,” said president and founder Char Matejovsky. “With schools facing major cutbacks, we concluded that the only way to ensure a robust arts program was to build our own.”

Other days of giving by Gianforte have included donating toys to the Helena area Marine Corps Toys for Tots, contributing a quarter of his governor’s salary to the United Way of Missoula County, promoting blood donations through the American Red Cross of Montana, contributing a quarter of his governor’s salary to Warriors and Quiet Waters, encouraging donations to the Montana Food Bank Network or their local food bank, encouraging support for Montana law enforcement officers and their families and encouraging support for active duty and veteran Special Operations members through the Talons Reach Foundation.

The time at Bigger Sky Kids includes a meal, art activities and also offerings such as dance instruction. Goals of the program are helping students: explore and express their creativity through visual arts, music, dance, drama and more; experience domestic arts such as cooking, sewing, and gardening; and acquire computer literacy and other life skills.

“Bigger Sky Kids is about self-discovery, self-expression, skill building and confidence building. Thanks to the generosity of donors and our dedicated volunteers, we are able to provide children with regular, reliable access to after-school activities that let these kids express their creativity and curiosity,” Olson said.

Olson said there’s still a need for adult volunteers.

For more information or to help the program, contact Olson or email info@biggerskykids. org.

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