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Four Pillars of Health Workshop Oct 27

Join LIFTT and the Downtown Family Pharmacy on October 27 at 4 p.m. for a workshop covering the four pillars of healthy aging: Sleep, Exercise, Nutrition and Stress Management

Join LIFTT and Downtown Family Pharmacy Billings for the Four Pillars of Health Workshop on Monday, October 27, at 4 p.m. at the Billings LIFTT office (1241 Crawford Drive).

Learn about the four pillars upon which healthy aging is built: Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, and Stress Management, and get tips and strategies to strengthen all four.

The Downtown Family Pharmacy Team will also be conducting free InBody scans for workshop participants. An InBody scan is a body composition analysis that uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to provide a detailed breakdown of your body’s muscle mass, body fat, and water levels. It is a quick, non-invasive, and radiation-free process that helps you understand your health beyond a standard weight, track changes over time, and identify areas for improvement.

Bring a friend, learn something new, and enjoy a great time together. We’d love to see you there! For more information about the Four Pillars of Health Workshop and all the health and wellness programs at LIFTT, contact our nutritional health coaches: Eileen Rodrieguz, (406) 294-5185, eileenr@liftt.org, or Lynn Graham, (406) 606-1766, lynng@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 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.

Brain Thrive Starts November 5

Join LIFTT for a FREE 6-week Brain Thrive Class!

Designed to help young adults sharpen focus, improve memory, and make smarter decisions for a healthier brain and better life.

Participants will Learn How to:

Protect your brain from damage
Fuel your brain with smart food choices
Break bad brain habits
Boost mood, motivation, and memory
Thrive academically and socially

Classes will run each Wednesday from November 5 through December 16, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Billings LIFTT office (1241 Crawford Drive). For more information or to register for Brain Thrive, contact Eileen Rodrigeuz at (406) 294-5185 or eileenr@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 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.

Extraordinary Board Meeting October 19

in the Billings LIFTT office.

The LIFTT board of directors will hold an extraordinary meeting on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 8 a.m. at the Billings LIFTT office (1241 Crawford Drive). The public is invited to attend and offer comments during the public comment period.

Click here to view or download the agenda for the October 19, 2025, Extraordinary 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.

Extraordinary Board Meeting October 18

in the Billings LIFTT office.

The LIFTT board of directors will hold an extraordinary meeting on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 8 a.m. at the Billings LIFTT office (1241 Crawford Drive). The public is invited to attend and offer comments during the public comment period.

Click here to view or download the agenda for the October 18, 2025, Extraordinary 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.

September 2025 LIFTT Connection Now Available!

The September 2025 edition of the LIFTT Connection Newsletter is now available!

View the September 2025 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email on the Web

Download the September 2025 LIFTT Connection Newsletter Email (Adobe PDF)

In this issue of the LIFTT Connection:

You can request to join our email list and receive the September 2025 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 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.

Thank You Marilyn!

Marilyn Gone retired from LIFTT in August 2025 after being with the organization for 15 years.

Marilyn Gone retired from LIFTT in August 2025, having been with the organization for 15 years.

Dear Marilyn,

Congratulations on your retirement! After 15 years of incredible dedication, your impact at LIFTT has been profound and deeply appreciated. Thank you for all you’ve done to support and uplift our community. You will be greatly missed, but we wish you nothing but happiness, health, and new adventures in this next chapter of your life.

Sincerely,

LIFTT’s Team

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 Awarded CIF Grant for ADA Accessible All-Inclusive Community Garden

Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Community Investment Fund (CIF) mini-grant to expand and enhance its ADA Accessible All-Inclusive Community Garden. This funding will help ensure that people of all abilities—aging and disabled individuals alongside those without disabilities—can fully participate in the joys and benefits of gardening.

The CIF award enables LIFTT to purchase adaptive gardening tools, including long-handled and ergonomic hand tools, one-handed implements, adaptive gripping aids, kneelers, garden seats, raised beds, self-watering containers, and wheelchair-accessible features. These resources will allow individuals with mobility limitations, arthritis, low grip strength, or other challenges to actively engage in gardening, workshops, and community activities.

“This grant affirms what we’ve believed from the start—when you design spaces for inclusion, you create opportunities for connection, learning, and independence,” said Carlos A. Ramalho, Executive Director of LIFTT. “The Community Investment Fund is helping us remove the barriers that keep too many people from participating in something as fundamental and life-giving as tending a garden.”

Located at LIFTT’s headquarters in Billings, the garden offers an accessible and welcoming environment for at least 100 participants in its inaugural season, with half of them expected to be individuals with disabilities. Through seasonal planting, maintenance, harvesting events, and educational workshops on adaptive techniques, nutrition, and sustainability, the project will foster inclusion, wellness, and community connection.

For more information about LIFTT’s ADA Accessible All-Inclusive Community Garden or other programs, please visit www.liftt.org or call (406) 259-5181.

About the Community Investment Fund:

The Community Investment Fund (CIF) supports inclusive projects across Montana that enable people with disabilities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities alongside people without disabilities. CIF Grants are administered by the University of Montana Rural Institute for Inclusive 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 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.

FY 2025: A year of Challenge, Growth & Resilience

As we look back on Fiscal Year 2025, ending on September 30, 2025, one word isn’t enough to capture the spirit of our journey. This year at Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) has been challenging, active, demanding, and ultimately, full of growth.

Across Montana and the nation, human service organizations are navigating rising costs and uncertain funding. Yet through it all, LIFTT has remained steadfast in our mission: empowering people with disabilities and older adults to live independently, with dignity and choice.

Highlights of the Year

New Programs: This was a pivotal year marked by the launch of several key initiatives, including the Diabetes Prevention Program, the Wellness Program, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, and the Money Follows the Person program. Each strengthens LIFTT’s ability to diversify services while staying true to our mission.

ADA Anniversary Celebration: On July 26, 2025, we hosted Montana’s largest celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Over 800 people joined us, alongside 31 vendors, in a day filled with joy, energy, and community pride.

Building Accessibility Improvements: Our Billings headquarters now features fully automatic west and east entrances. Upcoming priorities include installing an elevator and remodeling restrooms to meet ADA standards, ensuring that our building reflects our commitment to accessibility.

Technology Modernization: LIFTT is preparing for cloud migration, a step that will reduce costs, improve efficiency, and allow staff greater access to the tools they need to serve our consumers.

Transportation Milestones: With support from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), we’ve laid the groundwork for an ADA-accessible rural transportation program. This service will expand mobility options across our 18-county service area and promises to be a future revenue-generating program for sustainability.

Looking Ahead

Despite financial uncertainties, this year has proven that challenges can inspire creativity. From launching new programs to celebrating the ADA, LIFTT has continued to stand strong for and with the communities we serve. We move forward into Fiscal Year 2026 with confidence, commitment, and gratitude for everyone who walks this path with us: consumers, staff, partners, and supporters.

Onward into the Future,

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 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.

upLIFTT Thrift Success Continues following Grand Opening

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, LIFTT celebrated the grand opening of the upLIFTT Thrift Store, and what a day it was! Thanks to the hard work of staff, volunteers, and community members, the event was not only joyful but also a tremendous success.

From the moment the doors opened, shoppers streamed in to browse shelves of household goods and displays of treasures waiting for a second life. The excitement was tangible, and by the end of the day, sales had surpassed expectations. In fact, the store made in one day what had previously taken more than a week to earn. That’s the kind of momentum that tells us the community is ready for upLIFTT.

A Community Effort

The success of the grand opening was built on the generosity and dedication of many. Volunteers gave their personal time to help set up, staff the store, and welcome shoppers. Others baked treats for the bake sale. Special thanks to Theresa, Tanya, Rose, Kelly, Eileen, and Anya for filling the day with homemade goodies that added to the festive atmosphere.

This spirit of giving is exactly what upLIFTT represents: people coming together and creating something that benefits everyone.

More Than a Store

While shoppers walked away with bargains, upLIFTT is about more than resale. It is about sustainability, creativity, and community support. Donations from generous neighbors have already stocked the store with a wide variety of items. And beginning in October 2025, upLIFTT will host upcycling classes on the first Saturday of every month, a fun way to learn new skills and see how everyday items can be transformed into something fresh and useful.

These classes, designed to spark creativity and connection, are just one more way the store will serve as a hub for community engagement.

Why It Matters for LIFTT

Every purchase at the upLIFTT Thrift Store supports LIFTT’s mission of promoting independence and inclusion for people with disabilities across Eastern Montana. The revenue generated will help fund programs, expand services, and keep our commitment strong: that people deserve to live independently and with dignity.

The store is already making a name for itself. Word is spreading, shoppers love what they’re finding, and with continued support, upLIFTT will grow into a steady and vital source of funding for our work.

Stop By and See for Yourself!

If you haven’t visited yet, we invite you to stop by and experience the store firsthand. Whether you’re hunting for a bargain, donating gently used items, or joining one of our upcycling classes. upLIFTT isn’t just a store. It’s a movement of community, creativity, and support for independence.

🛍️ Shop • Donate • Volunteer at upLIFTT

Every purchase supports LIFTT’s mission of independence for people with disabilities in Eastern Montana.

Shop: Find treasures at great prices.
Donate: Give gently used items a new life.
Volunteer: Join the team that makes it all possible.

upLIFTT Thrift is located at 1201 Grand Avenue #1 in Billings, and its regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about upLIFTT Thrift, our monthly upcycling classes starting October 6, or to arrange to donate your gently used items, contact the store at (406) 534-1147

Come visit us, and be part of something bigger!

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.

SDSC Donation Tends Blooming Roots of Inclusive Garden

Hey folks—Garrett Mills here. You might not expect LIFTT’s Board Chair to be hanging out in a community garden, but here I am, elbow‑deep in soil, feeling energized by what’s growing among us.

As summer winds down, the first harvest season of LIFTT’s ADA Accessible All‑Inclusive Community Garden is in full swing. We couldn’t have done it without an incredible boost from San Diego Seed Company—a stellar organic seed provider that’s all about locally adapted, heirloom varieties, sustainable practices, and seed saving, tailoring their seeds to flourish in the varying microclimates of Southern California and the American West.

They’ve gifted us 800 packets of seed (a value of about $3,100) that span vegetables and herbs—each chosen with purpose, heart, and community in mind.

“This season’s garden is a patchwork of resilience, creativity, and possibility. Thanks to San Diego Seed Company’s generosity, we’re planting more than seeds—we’re growing connection, independence, and the joy of working alongside neighbors of all abilities,” I’m proud to say.

A Seed Company That Stands for More

Let me show you why San Diego Seed Company is a perfect match for LIFTT’s vision:

They nurture regionally adapted, organic, heirloom seeds—seeds that thrive in place and season.
They operate like a sustainable urban farm, hand-harvesting, on-site composting, recycling, and steering clear of synthetic chemicals—all to protect soil health and community wellness.
They empower small‑scale and home growers, offering education through their Garden Wisdom Blog, classes, and more—helping gardeners become confident, connected, and

Those are values that resonate deeply with LIFTT’s mission to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, opportunity, and connection.

What’s Next for LIFTT’s Garden?

Continued Growth: With seed packets in the ground, we’re gearing up for a bountiful selection of veggies and herbs in future seasons. Cultivating Knowledge: We’ll be leveraging San Diego Seed Company’s approach—teaching planting, seed saving, and sustainable methods—to enrich our gardeners’ experience. Growing Community: The garden isn’t just about produce; it’s our open-air classroom, fellowship hub, and source of shared joy.

To learn more or see the garden in action, please send us a message via liftt.org/contact or call us at (406) 259-5181.

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.