The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Big Sandy Medical Services Foundation’s annual fundraising drive for 2023 is nearing a close having raised $7,955 as of December 16th. The Medical Foundation would like to thank the community for their ongoing generous support in their mission to support Big Sandy Medical Center and to offer scholarships to local students pursuing careers in the medical field. With a little over 2 weeks remaining in the calendar year, the Foundation would also like to remind the community that days are running out for 2023 tax-deductible donations to local non-profits.

For the past 2 years, the foundation has given nearly $32,000 toward the Medical Center kitchen remodel. All of those funds were raised through Big Sandy community donations. In total, the Medical Center needs upwards of $270,000 for the project, which will help the staff take better care of the seniors under their care. Among other things, the kitchen upgrades involve the installation of a walk-in freezer, which will replace the current unit in the kitchen and multiple freezers located in the basement of the facility.

This year, the foundation will be focusing donations on the remodeling of the clinic, with a goal of renovating and upgrading a space for a CT (computerized tomography) scanner . The machine was purchased through funds paid out by the Provider Relief Fund, which was distributed to help relieve the burdens incurred by medical facilities brought on by the COVID pandemic. In order to meet the specifications required for certification and licensing of this valuable resource, the building itself needs to be remodeled and upgraded. To complete this major project, BSMC needs upwards of $300,000.

In addition to assisting in the upgrading of the facility and purchasing equipment, the Medical Services Foundation provides local students with scholarships. To date, they have awarded 105 scholarships totaling $36,100. These funds help students complete degrees in medical fields. Students interested in applying for scholarships can get the forms from the high school guidance counselor who receives the paperwork in January every year. Scholarship details are posted publicly in the Mountaineer every year.

The Medical Services Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation established in 1989, by Robert Fink and Leonard Jungers. Since its inception, the foundation has raised $270,200.44. Those funds have been used toward the things like the installation of the heliport, the ER remodel, the tub room remodel and purchase of a new tub for residents, the patio upgrade, the clinic’s x-ray machine and associated computer equipment, and the patio remodel. Harry Bold is the current elected treasurer of the foundation and Nora Grubb is the acting appointed secretary.

The primary fundraising vehicle for the Medical Foundation is their annual fundraising letter, sent to the community in the fall every year. The foundation relies on the community’s generous donations to continue in its mission to support the medical center and local students. If you would like to make a 2023 tax-deductible donation, make checks payable to “BSMS Foundation”. They can be mailed to the Big Sandy Medical Services Foundation, P.O. Box 530, Big Sandy, MT 59520. As always, the Medical Services Foundation is grateful for the generous support of the community.