Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT) is pleased to announce a grant received from the Oro y Plata Foundation in the amount of $30,000. to create the “Jackie Kimbrough Emergency Fund,” to assist LIFTT consumers in financial distress.
Named in honor of a former employee of the agency who passed in 2021, LIFTT plans to use the Emergency Fund to help people with disabilities meet unanticipated expenses. To qualify for assistance, consumers cannot receive assistance from any other available federal and state program funding. The expenses that can be paid for with funds from the emergency fund vary from significant home repairs to replacing appliances.
LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)(3) Corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). As part of a nationwide network of CILs, LIFTT provides people with disabilities with Independent Living (IL) services in the geographical area formed by the eighteen counties: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Prairie, Powder River, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone.
According to Carlos Ramalho, LIFTT’s Executive Director, the creation of this emergency fund is, “an effort to help our consumers – persons with disabilities – stay in their homes, live independently, be able to participate in their communities, and avoid institutionalization. LIFTT would like to thank the Oro y Plata Foundation for this generous grant to get the fund started; we hope many others will help make it grow over time through their contributions.”
If you are a person with disabilities, you can receive LIFTT services free of charge. Please consider getting involved not only by becoming a consumer but by becoming a peer mentor, attending the peer mentor meetings, and volunteering. You can start your journey by visiting our website at liftt.org or by calling (406) 259-5181.
If you are interested in donating to LIFTT for the Kimbrough Memorial Fund or one of our other projects https://liftt.org/get-involved/donate-support/or contact Executive Director Carlos Ramalho at (406) 294-5190 or carlosr@liftt.org.