Lithia Ford of Missoula and Boone Karlberg P.C. Donate a New Vehicle to Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County

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Lithia Ford of Missoula and Boone Karlberg P.C. Donate a New Vehicle to Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County

Apr 28, 2020

Lithia Ford of Missoula and Boone Karlberg Support Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County Transportation Needs.

Missoula, MT, April 28, 2020– In response to the call for safer, more reliable transportation, the Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County is proud to announce that it has partnered with Lithia Ford of Missoula and Boone Karlberg P.C. to provide the Club with a new 15-passenger van. A new van has been a long-term need for the Club, but COVID-19 created an urgency around this need that the Club couldn’t have predicted.

The Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County’s typical summer program is housed solely out of their central Clubhouse at the City Life Building, where they serve more than 130 children every day for 9 weeks over the summer. State guidance and regulations regarding large groups in response to COVID-19, however, have forced the Boys & Girls Club to consider a complete re-revamp of their model.

“Our team has spent the past few weeks re-vamping our Summer Club program, shifting our model to smaller groups of children at different locations across Missoula,” explained Katie Moore, BGCM CEO. “If this shift is necessitated come summer, it poses a number of unique challenges for our Club, one of which is the need for additional transportation.”

Moore explained that all Boys & Girls Club Summer program attendees participate in a field trip every day and while it is simple enough to coordinate shared vehicles when operating out of one location, it poses much more difficult when children and staff are scattered across the County.

“We deeply believe in the importance of supporting our community,” shared Jaymie Bowditch, President of Boone Karlberg. “Boys & Girls Club of Missoula is an essential component of Missoula and we are grateful to be able to provide support through these present challenges, as well as equip them with the resources they need for long-term success.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County opened their 2020 Summer Club registration on April 15th and already have more than a third of their traditional spots filled. Moore shared that their ultimate goal is to ensure they are able to provide all 135 Summer Club spots, but that the health and safety of our Missoula children and families comes first. This new vehicle added to the Club’s fleet makes it that much more possible for the Club to adapt to the current needs of the community this upcoming summer.

“This is a challenging time we are all going through, but it can be most difficult for our youngest,” said Shane Morinville, General Manager of Lithia Ford of Missoula. “The Boys & Girls Club of Missoula County plays an important role in shaping the futures of our kids and we’re glad to partner with them to ensure they can continue to serve our community’s kids who need us now more than ever.”

For over twenty years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Missoula County has provided Missoula County youth, ages 5-13, a fun and safe environment to learn, play, meet new friends, and grow — with special emphasis on youth from disadvantaged circumstances. The Club is a multi-location, year-round youth development program offering after school education, enrichment, and prevention programs to more than 450 young people annually in Missoula County. The Club helps youth discover and create safe environments, supportive relationships, a sense of belonging, opportunities for community engagement, and a continuum of positive learning experiences.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Katie Moore at 406-542-3116 or email at katie@bgcmissoulacounty.org.

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