Teens holding clothing drive; fundraisers; student honored; and more

Teens from the East Helena area, along with the East Helena Branch Library staff, will have a clothing drive, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 29, at the East Helena Library, 16 E. Main St.

The event is the culmination of the teen-led Democracy Project.

The teens believed that warm weather clothing was a need in their community. Working with area nonprofits and other organizations that focus on youth, families in need and veterans, the teens will take the clothing drive items and disperse them throughout the community through collaborating businesses. 

The Democracy Project is a teen-led, nonpartisan initiative supported by local libraries, community partners and Humanities Montana. This program gives teens the resources to make change through civic participation.

Greater Helena Gives, the 24-hour fundraiser for various Helena nonprofits, will be May 3-4.

In 2022, Greater Helena Gives raised $233,971 for 96 local nonprofits from 995 donors. This year organizers hope to raise even more. There are 110 nonprofits participating this year.

It begins 8 p.m. May 3 and continues through to 8 p.m. May 4.

The event is organized by the Helena Area Community Foundation.

For more information, go https://www.greaterhelenagives.org/ or call 406-441-4955.

Helena Community Gardens is sponsoring a rummage/plant swap fundraiser 1-4 p.m. May 7 at Sixth Ward Community Garden Park.

Gardening items for donation to the event could include extra tools, planters or pots (no commercial plastic pots), seed starter supplies, hoses, drip lines, etc. All items should be in good, workable condition.

Donated plants such as perennial flowers, raspberry starts, seed starts, etc. should be individually potted and labeled. People can drop off your gardening items and/or plants for donation at the east side of the 6th Ward Park any time after 10 a.m. May 7 for pricing.

The public is also welcome to join a class on the principles and techniques of square-foot gardening. The class will start at 1 p.m.

For more information, call Amie Butler at 438-5819.

Empty Bowls Helena will be held 4:30 p.m. May 18 at the Helena Civic Center.

Tickets are $50 and include a handmade bowl, food and drinks.

The event includes a silent auction with items from local artists and businesses.

Proceeds will benefit Helena Food Share.

Tickets are limited and on sale now at HelenaFoodShare.org/EmptyBowls2023.

Hayden Oliveira, seventh grade student at Helena Middle School, was awarded the Oro Fino Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution four-county American history seventh grade essay contest bronze medal, certificate and $100 award check this month.

All grade five, six, seven and eight students in public, private, parochial and home schools were eligible to write an essay imagining the service they provided as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, which met during 1775-1776 and shaped what was to become the United States of America.

Oliveira’s essay has been forwarded to the state DAR History Committee for judging. See dar.org or www.helenadar.webly.com.

The monthly 406 Recycling event is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday in the Good Samaritan Thrift Store parking lot, 3067 N. Montana Ave.

The event supports Good Samaritan. SoFi will be sponsoring and covering fees for households. This monthly event is a great time to responsibly recycle broken, outdated or unwanted electronics. Cash donations are welcome.

Most office, computer and entertainment-related electronics are accepted for data-secure, responsible recycling. Many items are accepted for free including personal electronics, office equipment, entertainment systems and accessories.

More details are available at 406Recycling.com or call 406-449-6008. 

The Annual Helena Bike Blessing will be held from noon to 3 p.m. April 29 at Main Street Park in East Helena.

All bikes and riders are welcome, including motorcycles, bicycles, three-wheelers, ATV’s, Sports bikes, MotoX, four-wheelers, OHV’s, side-by-sides, etc.

It is free and open to the public. There will be food, and music will be provided by 4 God’s Sake band.

The Helena Bike Blessing was started by the Rev. Chuck Houk of Crossroads Christian Church with the aid of Circuit Riders Motorcycle Ministry in 2001. 

Kids of all ages may attend an Earth Day Scavenger Hunt on Mount Helena from noon to 2 p.m. on April 29.

Earth Day welcomers will greet families at the start of the ADA Trail at the base of Mount Helena. It includes activities and treasure hunts.

Participants can win gift card prizes to local restaurants.

Carroll College’s public relations class is teaming up with local Helena nonprofit Prickly Pear Land Trust to host the event.

The public may join Bigfoot for a fun afternoon wandering the trails of Mount Helena. For more information, text Brent Northup at 406-459-2371.

The Angel Fund board of directors recently announced the recipients of its 2023 Montana post-secondary Angel Fund Scholarship Program.

Scholarships are based on financial need as a priority, academic success, and a commitment to give back to their community.

The following 2023 Helena graduates will receive a $1,000-$3,000 scholarship to help with college expenses freshman year:

• Abigail Bennett, East Helena High School, Carroll College ~ Nursing
  Sponsors: Sunrise Rotary Club, Angel Fund, and Mountain West Bank Endowment in memory of Dick Morgan

• Brooke Buckley, Capital High School, UM Missoula ~ Sociology
  Sponsors: Opportunity Bank, Christine Hann, Sunrise Rotary Club, and an Anonymous Family Gift Trust

• Ashley Heinrich, Capital High School, University of Providence ~ Forensic Science
  Sponsors: HPPA Curt Stinson Memorial Scholarship, and an Anonymous Family Gift Trust

• Nyeala Herndon, Capital High School, UM Missoula ~ Elementary Education
  Sponsor: Susan Nimick, Angel Fund Board Member

• Tyler Kovick, Capital High School, MT Tech ~ Civil Engineering
  Sponsor: Paul Trombetta in memory of Jim Patterson

• Cael Murgel, Helena High School, UM Western ~ Business Management
  Sponsor: Tim Speyer Family Foundation

• Mya Olson, Helena High School, MSU Bozeman ~ Nursing
  Sponsors: Anonymous Angel Fund Board Member, and Angel Fund,

• Maycee Plummer, Helena High School, Helena College ~ Nursing
  Sponsor: Susan Nimick, Angel Fund Board Member and Angel Fund

• Brian Prenatt, Capital High School, Helena College ~ Computer Science
  Sponsor: Frank and Cathy McCall in memory of Dick Morgan

• Autumn Richeson, Capital High School, Flathead Valley Community College ~ Radiology
  Sponsors: Mary Beth and Ray Linder, and Angel Fund