Warming Center receives $30k grant to fix roof

Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded a $30,000 emergency grant to Flathead Warming Center in Kalispell to replace the shelter’s failing roof.

Flathead Warming Center is a nonprofit shelter that provides overnight lodging, showers and laundry access for up to 40 individuals per night during the coldest months of the year. After two winters of operating out of local churches, Flathead Warming Center was able to acquire a permanent home last fall before opening its doors this winter.

The leaking roof was discovered in February and was deemed irreparable. The cost to replace the roof is about $42,000. Flathead Warming Center was able to begin working on the roof replacement this week with the support of the grant from Whitefish Community Foundation but is continuing to accept cash donations to complete the project.

This is the second emergency grant that Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded to a local nonprofit organization this year.

In January, the foundation awarded a $45,000 to Samaritan House to support the deployment of a temporary shelter for individuals and families displaced by the closure of the Fairbridge Inn & Suites in Kalispell.

Since 2000, Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded $334,200 from the emergency fund to Flathead Valley nonprofits.

For more information about opportunities to support Flathead Warming Center’s work, visit flatheadwarmingcenter.org or call 406-885-3042. For more information about the work of Whitefish Community Foundation, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.