Co-op builds unity, community
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Editor,
Our beautiful Mission Valley has a great facility which can do wonders in helping our youth population personally deal effectively with such problems as family breakdowns, hunger, drugs, alcohol, thoughts of suicide and other challenges facing our kids these days. This facility is the Montana Co-op located on Main Street in Polson.
In recent months I have become involved with the Montana Co-op, and Jason Moore’s vision and mission for the Co-op. It is thoroughly stimulating to learn of the great potential of this organization, especially what its business arm, Kids Co-op, provides for our kids and for true community building and unity here in the valley.
With all the problems of water availability, climate change weather patterns, and just the vast number of baby-boomer retirees, more and more people from our more southwest states are going to be casting their eyes right up here to God’s Country. In other words, growth and the need for strong communities.
Our local 501(c)3 corporation, “Onward and Upward,” of which I am a board member, has the ability to provide Montana Co-op with not-for-profit status. This is a tremendous advantage for the Co-op. We are working closely with Montana Co-op in helping develop, administer and carry out their many planned programs and activities.
I am learning a lot, not only about the Co-op but about the needs within our youth population. Visualize a Youth Community Center focused on character and self-awareness building, developing leadership skills, work skills, social skills and healthy life-style choices. This Montana Co-op seems perfectly timed to meet many of these needs and be a true and valued Youth Center for this valley. It also can be the perfect next step from the Boys and Girls Club kids.
You will be hearing more about all this, as we go along, in letters, ads, stories and announcements. Every great movement starts with an idea, a vision and need. We have the need. We have the idea. We have the vision. Many community-minded people, tribal and non-tribal together, are devoting energy, time and money in this work.
Bob McClellan
Polson
