New nonprofit holding fundraiser to help people in crisis

A local woman has started a nonprofit to help working families in crisis and is working to raise funds to do so.

"I've known so many working families that have some kind of crisis come up and they don't have the savings or the resources to deal with it or the crisis is so catastrophic it bankrupts them," Blessed to Bless NOW founder BilliJo Doll said, adding that the nonprofit is meant to help families weather the storm in their time of need.

"What helps them through is the neighbors coming around them, helping them, encouraging them," she said.

Doll said she has worked in conservation for most of her career. She also has a degree in rangeland watershed management and has written a few books, but she said she has had the idea for this nonprofit for years, initially getting the idea when 50 people lost their jobs in Glendive a few years ago.

She decided to start the nonprofit after her own personal experience with crisis, she said, when ankle surgery last spring kept her bedridden for months. Her health insurance would pay for her care only if she required a full-time nurse, she said, adding that she did not.

After that, she went online looking for grants to help pay the bills that were quickly piling up, Doll said, adding that eventually she put the experience behind her, with the help from donations from Angel Care and a church, along with and Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods delivering her groceries to her at no extra cost, but it motivated her to start the nonprofit for others who have experienced crisis in their own lives.

When there is a crisis, it happens right there and then, Doll said, and people in crisis need assistance right there and then.

She added that Blessed to Bless is not for chronic cases but to help people in the short term.

Doll said 99 percent of all donations will go to providing assistance. She added that money collected in local areas will stay in those local area but any money from grants or matching funds are for all areas. All donations are also tax deductible, Doll said, which is a way for Blessed to Bless to give back to people who have donated.

The organization was incorporated June 29, with a three-member board and was approved by the IRS as a nonprofit Aug. 9.

Since the organization was approved, Blessed to Bless has partnered with many businesses in town such as Hank Tweeten's Auto Body, Tire-Rama and Northern Auto Repair for automotive care; Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods for groceries, A Plus Health Care and Angel Care for health care, and Doll has been working with local banks and landlords to partner with Blessed to Bless for housing.

She said after she had written a few grants looking for funding for Blessed to Bless NOW, one organization wrote back to her saying that they had no connections to Montana and could not give her the grant she had requested. But, Doll said, the woman who had contacted Doll said the grant request was so compelling that it had her in tears. She then offered a deal to Doll - $2,500 in matching funds if Doll could collect the other half by Oct. 1.

Blessed to Bless NOW is holding a fundraiser Sept. 29 at the District 4 Human Resource Development Council building's Fireside Room to gather the matching funds, Doll said, adding that all guests must bring a nonperishable food item for the local food bank. Tickets in advance are $25 each or five for $100, or $30 each at the door.

The event will start with a silent auction, have live entertainment performed by Gene Allen and a serve dinner prepared by Ryan Sorensen from Spud's Grub Hut, Doll said.

Bob Sivertsen, who is facing incumbent Rep. Jacob Bachmeier, D-Havre, and Libertarian Conor Burns in the race for House District 28, will act as the auctioneer in a live auction, including 10 hours of care that has been donated by Angel Care.

Doll said the nonprofit is also still looking for donations for the silent auction, items $50 or less, and donations for the live auction, which will be higher-end items.

The fundraiser also will have door prizes, she added.

Blessed to Bless will have a booth open during Festival Days, featuring some of the items that will be auctioned at the fundraiser, Doll said, as well as tickets for the fundraiser.

Tickets will also be for sale at Hank Tweeten's Auto Body, Boyce and Berry, the Atrium, Spud's Grub Hut and Builder's Plus or directly from her, she said.

She added that she has 10 volunteers for the fundraiser but is still looking for more. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact her.

For more information about Blessed to Bless NOW or to contact Doll about tickets, donations or volunteering can sontact her at 406-438-2416 or through Blessed to Bless NOW's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BlessedtoBlessNOW/ or visit the website at https://www.blessedtoblessnow.com/.

"People have no idea what a special place this really is," Doll said, adding that Have is filled with kind, helpful people.