Blog - LIFTT

March 2026 LIFTT Connection Now Available!

The January Edition of the LIFTT Connection Newsletter is now available!

View the March 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email on the Web

Download the January 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email (Adobe PDF)

In this issue of the LIFTT Connection:

You can request to join our email list and receive the March 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter and future newsletters by sending your name and address to jedb@liftt.org. Also, look for articles from the newsletter to be posted on liftt.org and our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn feeds.

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

A New Home for LIFTT in Glendive

The former KXGN Building at 206 Douglas Street will house LIFTT's Independent Living Services, an upLIFTT Thrift store, and RideWell, LIFTT's ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program, and be a "new space for independence, opportunity, and community in Eastern Montana" (Mark McGrath/Facebook)

The former KXGN Building at 206 Douglas Street in Glendive will house LIFTT’s Independent Living Services, an upLIFTT Thrift store, and RideWell, LIFTT’s ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program, and be a “new space for independence, opportunity, and community in Eastern Montana.” (Mark McGrath/Facebook)

A new space for independence, opportunity, and community in Eastern Montana.

For many people in rural communities, finding support, guidance, and opportunities for independence can be challenging. This new building will help ensure that individuals and families across Eastern Montana have a welcoming place to turn when they need information, encouragement, and practical support. The building will become a permanent home for several important LIFTT programs that serve our community.

LIFTT’s Independent Living Services

These services help individuals with disabilities and aging adults develop the skills, confidence, and support they need to live independently. Through peer support, independent living skills training, information and referral, advocacy, and help navigating benefits and community resources, LIFTT works alongside individuals to help them build the lives they want.

The RideWell ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program

RideWell is LIFTT’s new transportation initiative designed to address one of the biggest barriers facing rural communities: access to transportation. The program will provide safe, reliable, ADA-accessible transportation so people can reach medical appointments, pharmacies, jobs, education, and essential services.

The upLIFTT Thrift Store

The upLIFTT Thrift Store will offer affordable clothing, furniture, and household goods to the community. It will also create a space where neighbors can support one another while helping sustain LIFTT’s programs and services in Eastern Montana.

Much More Than a Change of Address

This move represents much more than a change of address. It reflects LIFTT’s commitment to the people who come to us looking for support, guidance, and opportunities to live more independently. For many individuals in Eastern Montana, services like peer support, independent living skills training, advocacy, and information and referral can make a life-changing difference. Having a permanent and welcoming space allows LIFTT to provide these services with greater stability and room to grow.

The former KXGN broadcasting building has long been a familiar landmark in the Glendive community. Soon, it will begin a new chapter as a place where independence is strengthened, barriers are reduced, and opportunities are expanded for people across Eastern Montana.

We look forward to welcoming the community into this new space and sharing the next chapter of LIFTT’s work in Glendive.

For more information about LIFTT’s move to 206 S. Douglas Street, contact:

Jennifer Hawkinson
LIFTT Glendive Regional Manager
(406) 948-8500, jenh@liftt.org

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

From the Executive Director: “A Form of Healing”

Participants in the “Creative Aging Art Class” work on their paintings during a recent session at the Billings LIFTT Office. One participant recently sent LIFTT a letter thanking the agency for the class, calling it “a form of healing.” (LIFTT Photo)

As we approach the midpoint of LIFTT’s fiscal year, we find ourselves looking both backward and forward. The past six months have brought their share of challenges and uncertainties, yet they have also reminded us why the work we do matters so deeply.

Every day, LIFTT continues to provide independent living services to individuals and families across South and Central Eastern Montana who rely on us for information, advocacy, support, and opportunity. The work is not always easy. Like many organizations serving rural communities, we navigate changing systems, limited resources, and the everyday complexities that come with serving a large geographic area.

And yet, the mission remains clear.

We are here to help people live independently, to remove barriers, and to walk alongside individuals as they build the lives they want for themselves. Sometimes that work takes the form of helping someone find housing, navigate healthcare systems, or access transportation. Other times it takes the form of something simpler, but just as meaningful: creating spaces where people can learn, connect, and rediscover hope. One example of this is LIFTT’s Acrylic Painting Class in Billings, offered this past winter. What began as a small art class quickly became something much more for the participants.

Recently, we received a letter from one of the students who attended the class. In it, he described the experience as one of the most enjoyable and therapeutic activities he had participated in since retiring. He wrote about the peace and stillness of the classroom, the quiet conversations among participants, and the encouragement provided by the instructor and staff. Even though he described himself as someone with “little art aptitude,” he found himself thriving in the environment.

Most strikingly, he described the class as “a form of healing” that helped renew his outlook on life and his sense of hope.

That simple reflection captures something essential about LIFTT’s work. Independent living is not only about services and programs. It is also about creating opportunities for people to reconnect with themselves, with their communities, and with the possibility of new beginnings.

As we move into the second half of the fiscal year, our commitment remains the same: to continue finding new and innovative ways to fulfill LIFTT’s vision and mission. Some of those ideas will involve new programs and partnerships. Others may begin as small opportunities, like an art class on a Tuesday morning, that grow into something much more meaningful.

Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of this work is that we do not dream alone. We dream alongside the people we serve, imagining together what greater independence, dignity, and opportunity might look like.

Sometimes the most powerful steps forward begin with something very simple: a conversation, a shared space, or the courage to try something new.

As we look ahead to the next six months, we remain grateful for the community that surrounds LIFTT and for the many individuals whose lives intersect with our work each day.

Their stories continue to remind us why this mission matters.

Carlos A. Ramalho
Executive Director
Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT)

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Protecting Disability Rights: Section 504 Update

LIFTT Graphic

Last year, LIFTT joined Disability Rights Montana and more than forty organizations led by and serving people with disabilities in asking the Montana Attorney General to withdraw from a lawsuit challenging Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Section 504 is one of the nation’s most important disability civil rights laws. It protects people with disabilities from discrimination in programs and services that receive federal funding. This includes schools, healthcare systems, transportation programs, and many community services.

For many Americans with disabilities, Section 504 helps ensure equal access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and participation in community life. Thanks to the efforts of disability organizations and advocates across the country, the original lawsuit changed course. The attorneys general who filed the lawsuit withdrew their request to have all of Section 504 declared unconstitutional, and several states chose to leave the lawsuit entirely.

However, Montana has remained involved in the case. Montana’s Attorney General has now filed an amended complaint that challenges certain Section 504 regulations, including rules designed to ensure that people with disabilities can live, learn, and participate fully in their communities. The complaint also challenges protections related to the rights of parents with disabilities.

Disability Rights Montana and other disability-led organizations, such as LIFTT, are once again asking organizations and individuals across the state to speak up in support of disability rights. If you would like to learn more or add your name to the letter supporting Section 504, please visit: https://disabilityrightsmt.org/save-504-again/ Both organizations and individual Montanans can sign the letter.

Protecting disability rights laws like Section 504 helps ensure that people with disabilities can continue to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Moment of Independence: Finding a Path through Medicare

Editor’s Note: Each month, starting with March 2026, the LIFTT Connection Newsletter will highlight a “Moment of Independence” showcasing some of the ways we have successfully assisted consumers in meeting their goals. This month is a story of how, through the core service of Information & Referral (I&R), LIFTT helped a family gain a better understanding of their Medicare benefits.

An example of the card issued to every Medicare recipient (Medicare.gov)

An example of the card issued to every Medicare recipient. Medicare is just one of the programs and services that LIFTT can help people find answers about. Image Credit: Medicare.gov

Every day, people across Southeastern and South-Central Montana face challenges navigating complex systems related to healthcare, housing, transportation, and disability services. Through LIFTT’s programs, individuals and families gain access to information, guidance, and support that help them move forward with confidence.

The Situation

A family member recently contacted LIFTT looking for guidance about how to move forward with Medicare coverage for a loved one with a disability. Like many people navigating the healthcare system for the first time, they felt unsure about where to begin and what options might be available.

How LIFTT Helped

Through LIFTT’s Information and Referral services, the individual received clear guidance about the Medicare process and learned how to contact Social Security to explore available coverage options, including Medicare Advantage plans.

The Outcome

What initially felt confusing quickly became manageable. With the right information and direction, the family member gained the confidence needed to move forward and advocate for their loved one’s healthcare needs. They later shared their gratitude for the guidance they received and the reassurance that helped them move forward.

Impact

Access to reliable information empowered this family to take the next steps toward securing appropriate healthcare coverage and greater peace of mind.

Why This Matters

At LIFTT, providing clear information and guidance helps individuals and families navigate complex systems and take meaningful steps toward greater independence.

Need Help Navigating Services?

Have a question? Need help navigating services or benefits? LIFTT is here to help. Our Information and Referral staff assist individuals and families across Southeastern and South-Central Montana in finding services, understanding benefits, and connecting with community resources. For more information, call or stop by one of our offices Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Billings: 1241 Crawford Drive, (406) 259-5181, Glendive: 206 S. Douglas Street, (406) 948-8500, or send us a message anytime online at liftt.org/contact.

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in Southeastern and South-Central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Helping People Return Home

(Getty Images)

Helping People Return Home: An Interview with Pam Ramirez About LIFTT’s MFP Program

At LIFTT, one of our goals is to help individuals live as independently as possible in their own communities. One program helping make that possible is the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program. We spoke with Pam Ramirez, LIFTT’s Independent Living Program Manager, to learn more about how this program helps individuals transition from nursing facilities back into community living.

What is the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program?

The Money Follows the Person program helps people who are living in nursing homes move back into community settings such as their own homes or assisted living facilities. The program provides support during the transition and helps individuals access the services they need to live safely and independently outside of an institution. For many people, it creates the opportunity to return to a more independent life.

Who qualifies for the MFP program?

The program is designed for individuals currently living in nursing facilities who want to transition back into the community. Participants must meet certain eligibility requirements related to Medicaid services and the length of time they have lived in a nursing facility. LIFTT staff work closely with individuals and their families to determine eligibility and guide them through the process.

What are the advantages of moving from a nursing home to a community setting?

For many people, moving back into the community can greatly improve their quality of life. Living in a community setting often allows individuals to have more privacy, greater independence, and more opportunities to participate in everyday activities. People are able to reconnect with family, friends, and their communities in ways that are often difficult in institutional settings.

A Real-Life Example: Mary’s Journey Back to the Community

One recent example highlights the impact of the program.

Mary, a 78-year-old woman living in Billings, was referred to LIFTT through the MFP program to receive assistance transitioning from an institutional setting into an assisted living facility. Mary lives with several complex health conditions, including chronic kidney disease and other medical challenges. With support from LIFTT staff, Mary began exploring what kind of living environment would best support her independence and quality of life. Through person-centered planning, she was able to identify what was most important to her in a home and community setting.

LIFTT staff worked alongside Mary throughout the housing search, helping her connect with community resources and ensuring that her preferences and needs were clearly communicated to potential providers. During this process, Mary also learned about additional services offered by LIFTT, including the Peer Mentor Program, Health and Wellness resources, and diabetes education programs.

Through collaboration between Mary, LIFTT staff, and community partners, Mary successfully transitioned into an assisted living facility of her choice, a place where she can continue to live with greater stability, dignity, and support.

What are the most common challenges people face?

Transitioning from a nursing facility back into the community can take planning and coordination. Some individuals face challenges such as finding accessible housing, arranging transportation, or coordinating medical and support services. Programs like MFP help ensure that individuals have the resources and assistance needed to make a successful transition.

Why do you believe in this program?

“I believe in this program because it gives people choices,” Pam says. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to live in the community if that is what they want. MFP helps make that possible.” Seeing individuals regain independence and reconnect with their communities is one of the most rewarding parts of the work. Programs like MFP remind us that independence is not just about where people live. It is about giving individuals the opportunity to make choices about their own lives.

How to Apply or Make a Referral

Individuals currently living in a nursing facility who would like to explore returning to community living may be eligible for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program. Family members, social workers, case managers, and healthcare providers can also help start the process by submitting a referral. To begin, complete the Montana MFP Referral Form at the following link: https://webapp.hhs.mt.gov/fps/form/392

After the referral is submitted, program staff will review the information and follow up to discuss eligibility and next steps. If you have questions or would like assistance completing the referral form, LIFTT staff are available to help. For more information, contact Dineva Bower, MFP regional transition coordinator, at (406) 831-0037 or dinevab@liftt.org.

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

LIFTT Board of Directors meets March 12

The LIFTT Board of Directors will hold an ordinary meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 4 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The public is invited to attend the meeting and offer comments during the public comment period.

Click here to view or download the meeting agenda and Zoom invitation for the March 12, 2026, LIFTT board of directors meeting. (Adobe PDF)

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple or Android Device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

LIFTT purchases KXGN building

A rendering of LIFTT’s new Glendive home.The former KXGN Building at 206 Douglas Street will house LIFTT’s Independent Living Services, an upLIFTT Thrift store, and RideWell, LIFTT’s ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program (AI-assisted).

206 S. Douglas St. location will house LIFTT’s Independent Living Services, the upLIFTT Thrift Store, and the RideWell Transportation Program

Glendive, MT, February 20, 2026 — Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT), a Montana nonprofit Center for Independent Living serving 18 counties across South-Central and Eastern Montana, is proud to announce the purchase of the former KXGN broadcasting site, located at 206 South Douglas Street in Glendive, Montana.

This historic property, long recognized as a landmark in the Glendive community, will soon take on a new mission. It will become a place where independence is strengthened, barriers are removed, and opportunity is expanded for aging adults, individuals with disabilities, and families across Eastern Montana.

For LIFTT, this purchase represents a major milestone and a powerful step forward. For the community, it represents something even greater: a permanent home for essential services that support dignity, stability, and full participation in everyday life.

“This is one of the most exciting and meaningful achievements in LIFTT’s history,” said Carlos A. Ramalho, Executive Director of LIFTT. “This building will become a center of hope and practical support for the people of Eastern Montana. It will allow us to provide the quality independent living services our communities deserve, not temporarily, but permanently.”

A Permanent Home for Independent Living Services

LIFTT’s Independent Living Program helps individuals build the tools, confidence, and resources they need to live life on their own terms. Many people across Eastern Montana face challenges such as isolation, poverty, limited access to housing, disability-related barriers, and the absence of transportation options. In rural communities, even basic services can feel out of reach.

From this new permanent location in Glendive, LIFTT will continue to provide essential services including independent living skills training, peer support, information and referral, advocacy, and assistance navigating benefits and community resources.

“This is more than a building,” said Jen Hawkinson, Regional Manager for LIFTT in Glendive. “This is a permanent home for people who need support, encouragement, and real resources. It will allow us to serve our community with greater stability and greater capacity. We are excited for what this means for the future of Eastern Montana.”

upLIFTT Thrift Store: Community Support, Local Opportunity

The former KXGN building will also house the upLIFTT Thrift Store, a community-centered initiative designed to strengthen quality of life in Glendive and surrounding rural communities.

The upLIFTT Thrift Store will provide affordable access to clothing, household items, furniture, and essential goods. This will help individuals and families stretch limited budgets while supporting sustainability and community connection. Proceeds from the store will also help support LIFTT programs and services in Eastern Montana.

RideWell: Revolutionizing Rural Transportation in Eastern Montana

The building will also serve as the interim operational home for RideWell, LIFTT’s developing ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program.

RideWell is being created to address one of the most urgent barriers facing Eastern Montana: transportation. In many rural communities, public transportation does not exist. Travel distances can exceed 250 miles round-trip for medical appointments. For individuals with disabilities, older adults, and low-income residents, these distances can lead to missed care, delayed treatment, unemployment, and isolation.

RideWell will help change that by providing safe, reliable, and ADA-compliant transportation across rural communities, supporting access to medical care, prescriptions, employment, education, and community engagement.

“RideWell is going to change lives,” said Tina Carter, Transportation Coordinator for LIFTT. “Accessible transportation is not a luxury. It is what allows people to stay healthy, keep appointments, maintain independence, and remain connected to their communities. This building gives us the space and stability we need to move RideWell forward and bring this program closer to full operation.”

RideWell will operate from this location until its permanent garage and vehicle shop can be built at 119 South Bell Street in Glendive, where LIFTT plans to develop a dedicated transportation facility.

A Future Built on Commitment and Community

The purchase of the Douglas Street facility reflects LIFTT’s long-term commitment to Glendive and to the communities of Eastern Montana. It will allow LIFTT to expand services, strengthen partnerships, and build a stable foundation for growth.

LIFTT believes rural communities deserve the same quality of services available in larger cities. This investment ensures that aging adults and individuals with disabilities will have access to services that respect their independence and protect their rights.

LIFTT looks forward to welcoming the public to this new facility and sharing updates as the building is prepared to open its doors as a hub of services, opportunity, and community progress. LIFTT plans to host an open house and community celebration in the coming months. Additional details will be announced soon.

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

Stockman Bank Supports LIFTT’s RideWell ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program

Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT), a nonprofit Center for Independent Living serving South Central and Eastern Montana, is pleased to announce it has received generous community support from Stockman Bank in furtherance of LIFTT’s mission to promote independence, accessibility, and full community participation for aging adults and individuals with disabilities living in rural Montana.

This support will directly strengthen LIFTT’s developing ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program, RideWell, which is being created to address one of the most persistent barriers to independence in Eastern Montana: reliable transportation.

In rural communities, access to transportation is not simply a convenience. It is an indispensable service. Without it, individuals may be unable to attend medical appointments, access pharmacies, shop for groceries, maintain employment, or participate fully in their communities. RideWell is being developed to ensure that aging adults, people with disabilities, and low-income residents have safe, reliable, and accessible transportation options, even across long distances.

RideWell is being developed to address transportation barriers that limit independence and opportunity across South Central and Eastern Montana. Its vision is to be a driving force in promoting independence and eliminating barriers for aging and disabled individuals through equitable transportation in rural Montana. Its mission is to bridge the transportation gap, including in Native American reservation communities, by providing reliable, ADA-compliant transportation that supports access to education, healthcare, employment, and community engagement, ensuring the right to mobility and inclusion for aging and disabled individuals.

“We are sincerely grateful to Stockman Bank for standing with LIFTT and for supporting RideWell at a critical time in the program’s development,” said Tina Carter, Transportation Coordinator of LIFTT’s RideWell ADA Accessible Rural Transportation Program. “This kind of partnership is how rural communities build lasting solutions. Stockman Bank understands that transportation supports health, independence, and stability. Their support helps bring RideWell closer to reality.”

Stockman Bank is Montana’s largest family-owned community bank, with full-service locations across the state. Founded in 1953, Stockman remains uniquely focused on Montana and provides comprehensive banking products and services, along with state-of-the-art online and mobile banking, wealth management, and insurance services.

“Stockman Bank believes in supporting the communities we serve and investing in organizations that improve the quality of life for Montanans,” said Alisha Sackman, Glendive Branch Manager for Stockman Bank.

“LIFTT’s work reflects the values that strengthen our communities: independence, dignity, and the belief that every person should have access to the resources they need to live fully. We are proud to support the RideWell program and the impact it will have across Eastern Montana.”

LIFTT’s RideWell program will provide accessible transportation options for individuals who often have no alternative means of travel. Many rural residents must travel long distances for specialty healthcare, and in some areas, transportation gaps create real risks to safety and well-being. With RideWell, LIFTT is working to ensure that people in rural Montana are not isolated from essential services simply because of geography or disability. This contribution from Stockman Bank reflects a shared belief that communities thrive when people are supported not only in moments of crisis, but also through long-term, practical investments that strengthen independence and opportunity.

About Stockman Bank

Stockman Bank is Montana’s largest, family-owned community bank, with convenient full-service locations across the state. Founded in 1953,

Stockman remains uniquely focused on Montana, offering comprehensive banking products and services, along with state-of-the-art online and mobile banking, wealth management, and insurance services. Stockman believes in supporting and giving back to the communities it serves and in investing in organizations that help preserve and improve Montana’s unique lifestyle. For more information, please visit stockmanbank.com

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.

January 2026 LIFTT Connection Now Available!

The January Edition of the LIFTT Connection Newsletter is now available!

View the January 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email on the Web

Download the January 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email (Adobe PDF)

In this issue of the LIFTT Connection:

You can request to join our email list and receive the January 2026 LIFTT Connection Newsletter and future newsletters by sending your name and address to jedb@liftt.org. Also, look for articles from the newsletter to be posted on liftt.org and our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn feeds.

About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.

Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.

Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.

You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.