Small Actions. Life-Changing Impact.
$25
Provides a special activity for one child at the Birnbaum Youth Home — a trip to the climbing gym, a pottery class, an afternoon on the river. For kids who have rarely been given space just to be kids, these moments do more than fill an afternoon. Research consistently shows that extracurricular activities build self-esteem and support healthy development in children who have experienced trauma.
$100
Provides a warm winter coat, gloves, hat, and scarf for one child living at the Birnbaum Youth Home. Montana winters don't wait, and for children who arrive with little more than what they're wearing, this is a gift that says: you belong here, and we're going to take care of you. Most of the young people in our care come from families at or below the poverty line.
$500
Provides consistent, quality one-on-one time with a caring adult — once a week, for an entire year — for one child at the Birnbaum Youth Home. For youth who have learned that adults disappear, this kind of steady presence is not a luxury. It is the work. More than 90 percent of the children we serve have experienced abuse or neglect, and learning to trust again takes time, patience, and someone who keeps showing up.
$1,000
Provides a full month of groceries for the Birnbaum Youth Home — shared meals, stocked shelves, and the quiet reassurance that there will always be enough to eat. That predictability matters more than most people realize for children who have gone without. The reimbursement rate Youth Homes receives from the state has remained essentially flat for over a decade, even as the cost of living in Montana continues to climb. Donor support like this fills that gap directly.