University Communications and Marketing

MSU Billings looks to make spirits bright

Holiday tree raffle to benefit Tumbleweed

University Communications and Marketing, 657-2266

MSU BILLINGS NEWS—MSU Billings Staff Senate looks to make spirits bright this holiday season with their second annual holiday tree raffle that will benefit the Tumbleweed Program.

The raffle will be held Dec. 3 through Dec. 13 with the final drawing on Thursday, Dec. 13 during the MSUB Holiday Party. Twelve trees have been decorated by senators and their departments across campus with an identified theme for each tree.

From Dec. 3 through Dec. 13, the trees will be on display in the MSUB Library for viewing, and raffle tickets will be available for purchase at $1 per ticket/6 tickets for $5 from Samantha Thatcher in the Library or Lu Barman in the Business Office at City College. Participants need not be present to win a tree.

Last year was the first time Staff Senate sponsored a holiday tree raffle, raising and donating $750 to the Ronald McDonald House from MSU Billings.

“This project is in line with our initiative to increase staff senate’s outreach in the Billings community,” shared Sheri Steiner, staff senate president. “Staff Senate chose Tumbleweed as this year’s benefactor because of the increasing number of homeless youth and young people in our community. Tumbleweed helps those from 16-24 years of age, which impacts the age group of many of our students. We want to help make a difference in those young lives.”

Tumbleweed provides safety, assistance and hope to our community’s vulnerable and homeless youth, creating lasting life change. Their vision is to end youth homelessness in our community. They serve close to 800 youth a year in several different programs:

• Homelessness Prevention and Crisis Intervention- Tumbleweed has youth advocates housed in each of the Billings Public Schools high schools and at the Lockwood Boys and Girls Club site to provide crisis intervention and support to improve stability, support families, and keep youth in a stable living environment and in school.
• Transitional Living Program- Tumbleweed houses and supports youth experiencing homelessness ages 16-22 in an independent living, community-based program.
• Chafee Foster Care Independence Program- Tumbleweed provides support to youth in the foster care system for ages 14-22 to help them transition from foster care to successful adulthood.
• Drop-In Center and Youth Resource Center- Tumbleweed offers respite from the streets, meals, hygiene and laundry services, and case management to youth ages 14-24 who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness. They are open seven nights per week and five days per week.
• Domestic Victims of Human Trafficking (DVHT) Program- Tumbleweed provides comprehensive victim services to young people who are victims of all forms of human trafficking, both labor trafficking and sex trafficking.