H.A.R.T. Building opens for business

My Neighbor in Need, a nonprofit organization new to Havre that allows people to anonymously help others with their specific needs, opened its doors Tuesday.

David Snuggs, the founder and president of the nonprofit, gave a presentation on what people can expect from the service. He spoke at the St. Jude Parish Center at noon Tuesday.

The nonprofit is based out of Great Falls, and Havre is the 40th city to receive its service.

"We're pretty excited about launching it today," Snuggs said.

The way the nonprofit works is that anyone in the world can log onto the website, which is http://www.myneighborinneed.org, and view "needs" that have been posted in a particular area that the nonprofit covers.

"It's anonymous giving at its best," Snuggs said.

Anyone can request to post a need on the website, and a representative from the nonprofit will confirm that the need is real and valid. If they deem it so, the need gets posted on the website and those wanting to help out can view them.

The donor and the person in need never meet.

Snuggs said the most common request he has seen since he started the nonprofit three years ago is for beds.

Other features of the nonprofit are My Student in Need and the Free Pet Food Pantry.

My Student in Need works similarly to My Neighbor in Need, but instead of those in need - in this case kindergarten through high school students - posting, their teachers recommend their students. The most commonly requested item for My Student in Need is by far winter apparel, Snuggs said.

The Free Pet Food Pantry is what it sounds like - free food for pets. Places like Walmart donate damaged bags of pet food to the cause and the food is divided up into gallon plastic bags.

How the nonprofit keeps people from taking advantage of the system is through a pay-it-forward initiative. Once someone has their need fulfilled by an anonymous donor, they have to give back before they can post another need. The Free Pet Food Pantry works the same.

Snuggs said they can give back in a variety of ways, including volunteering at the Free Pet Food Pantry or fulfilling someone else's need by volunteering hours for needs that require labor - like someone who needs their lawn mowed - or by donating monetarily to a need that requires a purchase.

As of this morning, My Neighbor in Need has fulfilled 4,389 needs.

"My original goal was to help 200 people a year," Snuggs said. " ... I underestimated the kindness of strangers."

Since Snuggs will not be able to run the operations in Havre, the nonprofit hired a representative for the town.

Heather Adkins, the project services director for Havre's My Neighbor in Need, will now be spending her time heading the nonprofit in the St. Jude's Havre Central High School building, newly reopenedas the H.A.R.T Building.

Adkins said that she is very excited to start her new work in the community. She said she will now be at the Havre Central High School building full-time.

Havre's Helping Haven is also now open in the same building as My Neighbor in Need. The former Community Giveaway House has changed its name to Havre's Helping Haven and moved into the H.A.R.T. building.