If you remember back to our post on the Samaritan House, you’ll recall that one of the pillars of Revel’s founding is our community giveback, where 1% of company profits are donated directly back to our community thru local non-profit organizations. We’re extremely proud of this, because, as a team, we’re able to make a larger, more impactful donation. For Q2, we amassed $15,000 to donate, which is no small feat coming from a small yet powerful team of only eight selling agents.

Our Q2 donations went to The Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana and Flathead Industries (which we’ll profile at a later date). Last week, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Darby Duval, the organization’s Development Director, to learn more about The Sparrow’s Nest and the impact it is making in our community.

The Sparrow’s Nest is a Kalispell, Montana-based home, “…dedicated to ensuring safe, supportive housing and resources for unaccompanied homeless high school students in the Flathead Valley, enabling them to graduate from high school and become productive members of our community.”

Focused on 13-19 year olds, The Sparrow’s Nest has bedrooms for eight homeless youth. As defined by the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless youth are “…individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.” The youth at The Sparrow’s Nest are separated from parents or guardians, and sometimes, are legally emancipated. To live at the home, these teens must be enrolled in – or willing to enroll – in high school.

Currently, the home has six teens living in it, along with a full-time “House Manager” (the warm and incredibly personable Dezi, the organization’s Program Manager) and overnight guardians to support them.

During the day, most of the residents attend class, however, Dezi and the rest of the staff also provide transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, grocery store trips and anything else the kids might need help with.  

I was lucky enough to meet one of their residents while visiting the home. In their words, “This place has changed my life.” When I pressed them for details, they responded “I’ve never felt so accepted.”

Accepting is the perfect word to describe The Sparrow’s Nest. As you walk in, a feeling of warmth, familiarity and home resonates throughout the bright, open concept floorplan. With a large, beautiful kitchen (where the teens are invited to cook monthly meals for their fellow residents), a cozy TV area surrounded by a gallery wall of art and inspirational phrases (curated by Dezi, a self-proclaimed thrift store junkie) and a chalkboard covered with words of affirmation about The Sparrow’s Nest “family.”

“Family” is exactly what you’ll find in the house. The same resident who told me they’ve never felt so accepted articulated it this way: “We are a family here. We might not look like a family, but we act like a real family and we love and support each other.”

What an honor it is to help this family grow.

Are you interested in supporting The Sparrow’s Nest? Scroll down for more information!

Want To Help?

The Sparrow’s Nest is entirely community-funded, with average donations sizes at $100 or less. The majority of funds cover The Sparrow’s Nest staff, while the remains pay for frequently-depleted items like toilet paper, dishwashing detergent and hand soap. While I was there, I asked specifically what physical donations might help most. They try to keep their needs list updated on their website, but they also answered me outright:

• A weed-eater
• Plus-sized clothing (3XL-4XL)
• Phone Cards (eg: Straight Talk)
• Dressers
  

If you have any items you’d like to donate to The Sparrow’s Nest, we will gladly pick them up and transport them to the home for you. Simply contact us and we’ll be in touch!