www.myneighborinneed.org celebrates 6-year anniversary

Press release

http://www.myneighborinneed.org, a proprietary website system that provides local citizens a way to ask for help from their community and a way for the community to give back is celebrating its 6-year anniversary.

Created by Great Falls resident Dave Snuggs and launched March 20, 2012, My Neighbor in Need has completed almost 11,000 need fulfillments.

“Today we once again celebrate the power of kindness and generosity that is alive and well in our backyard! And today, we remind people that if you give today, we can help today,” Snuggs said. “What started out as the simple idea of anonymous giving has grown into a movement encompassing other social services needed by members of the community including http://www.mystudentinneed.org and the free Pet Food Pantry.”

The website includes pages to enter needs or fulfill needs in Chinook and Havre.

In six years, My Neighbor in Need has received 13,000 requests for help and has fulfilled 84 percent of those requests.

“I originally hoped that we would be able to fulfill about 200 needs per year. I never thought that we would fulfill 1,800 needs each year. On average, we fulfill about eight needs each day,” Snuggs said. “Although the website has been instrumental in connecting those in need with those willing to help, without the community supporting the mission of My Neighbor in Need, we would simply just be a website. I want to thank our sponsors, community partners, board members, volunteers and all the caring individuals and organizations who every day wake up and make the choice to help a neighbor in need. I would like to send out a You Rock award to our Presenting Partner, Montana Farmers Union for six years of generous support.”

The website, developed by Tom Penwell of Tom’s Web Designs, allows for anyone to ask for help with a specific need whether the need is for themselves or for someone else in their community by simply going to the website and completing the Request a Need form and clicking submit. If a person does not have access to the website to complete the form, they may call 406-750-2542 and the form can be completed over the phone. In addition, the Request for a Need form can be completed inside the My Neighbor in Need office located inside Times Square at 525 Central Ave Suite M5A – Downtown Great Falls. My Neighbor in Need/My Student in Need is a 501c3, tax exempt, non-profit organization.

Operational costs are underwritten by sponsorship from Montana Farmers Union, contributions from our Partners in Dignity, and general donations from individuals.