Amy's Mess

06/01/2026

I sat down to put together May's numbers and updates, and once again, I am blown away by what this community continues to make possible.

In May, Amy's Mess provided 108 meals to local families—all covered by our incredible volunteers and supporters.

We were honored to be invited to participate in Greater Helena Gives, where Amy's Mess raised over $1,200. We were also invited to participate in Alive at 5, and even had a commercial created to help spread awareness about what we do.

This month, we were able to help our high school senior with clothing, food, a cooler, totes, and gas cards. We worked with her school counselor and did everything we could to help support her goal of graduating this summer. Unfortunately, it appears that graduation may not happen. She was so close. While the outcome may not be what we hoped for, I am grateful for everyone who stepped forward to support her.

We also helped another student who was providing transportation to a fellow student by supplying a gas card to help offset those costs.

This month, we welcomed a new family into our meal program and were able to provide groceries, coolers, totes, snacks, blankets, and other essentials to several families facing housing insecurity. Every family in our meal program also received extra snacks this month.

One need we are still working on is helping locate a reliable vehicle for a local mom. If anyone knows of something dependable and reasonably priced, please reach out.

Every meal, every blanket, every grocery run, every gas card, every tote, every snack, and every act of kindness happened because people in this community chose to help.

Thank you for believing in Amy's Mess. Thank you for sharing our posts, donating, volunteering, and trusting us to be part of these families' journeys.

Let's keep going. 🩷💛

https://amysmess.org/

05/31/2026

Today, Amy's Mess had the opportunity to help a local mom and her three young daughters who were struggling after a reduction in their food assistance benefits.

While our primary mission is serving homeless families with school-aged children, sometimes a situation comes along that tugs at your heart. When children are involved, it can be difficult to look the other way.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to help stock their kitchen with groceries and provide a little breathing room during a stressful time.

Food insecurity doesn't always look the way people expect. Sometimes families are housed, working hard, and still finding themselves in a difficult season.

Thank you to everyone who supports Amy's Mess and makes moments like this possible. Because of you, four more people have food on the table tonight.

https://amysmess.org/

05/30/2026

Check out the commercial for the Helena's Alive at Five where we will be the featured non-profit for the night!! Spread the word!!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/26/2026

Sometimes helping people means realizing not every story gets the ending you hoped for.

This week, Amy’s Mess gained another family currently living in a hotel and needing meals. We were also able to help them with groceries, a cooler, and a tote for food storage. They were incredibly kind and grateful, and moments like that remind me why this work matters so much.

As summer approaches, I checked in with our families, and none of them plan on leaving Helena once school is out. So for the first time, Amy’s Mess will continue providing meals through the summer months. We’re going to take it one week at a time and keep showing up however we can.

And our high school senior… that one has been hard on my heart. She was so close to graduating. So close. I’m still waiting to hear back from her counselor, but I’m afraid life and circumstances may have become too heavy for her to overcome right now.

That’s the frustrating part about poverty and survival mode that people don’t always see. Sometimes even when someone wants better for themselves, just getting through the day takes everything they have.

But we keep trying.
We keep showing up.
And we keep believing that even small acts of kindness matter.

Please keep sharing Amy’s Mess, talking about it, and spreading the word. This community continues to amaze me every single week.

https://amysmess.org/

05/18/2026

💛Sometimes one conversation can change the entire direction of someone’s life.💛

This weekend was one of those moments.

A few days ago, I shared that Michelle, the school district’s homeless liaison, is helping a young woman in need of a reliable vehicle. One person has already stepped forward to help us look, but if anyone knows of a dependable car at a reasonable price, please let me know.🩷

This weekend, each of our homeless families received a box of snacks and goodies. One family also needed totes to store their belongings and several blankets for where they are currently staying.💛

And our high school senior—the one so many of you have been asking about—finally connected with me on Sunday.🩷

We were able to get her food, and other necessities. Incredible volunteers donated gift cards for a haircut, clothing, meals, and so much more.💛

I also spoke with her school counselor, and there is still a very real possibility that she can graduate.🩷

I made her a promise: if she goes to school, stays on track, and keeps making progress, I will continue helping with gas cards along the way. And if she walks across that stage and earns her diploma, Amy’s Mess will be there to celebrate.💛

When she first told me she was living in a “trailer,” I pictured something very different. In reality, it is a slide-in camper in the back of a truck that leaks badly when it rains.🩷

And yet… she is still fighting. 💛

To every volunteer who donated blankets, totes, gift cards, food, and encouragement—thank you.🩷

Because of you, families are fed, young people are supported, and hope keeps showing up.💛

Let’s keep going. 🩷

https://amysmess.org/

05/16/2026

Amy's Mess has a big ask from the school district’s homeless liaison. A screenshot of the email is below. What can we do? Is there a way we can help this family?

05/14/2026

Our high school senior reached out last night.

She needed appropriate clothes for work and a ride to get there, so we made a quick trip to Target, picked up a few essentials, and got her to work.

Today, with her permission, I spoke with her school counselor. There is still hope that she may be able to graduate, and we are going to do everything we can to help support her along the way.

The support this community has shown for her has been incredible, and I cannot thank you enough. This weekend, I hope to get her some groceries and a few additional items she needs.

Thank you for helping Amy’s Mess show up when people need it most. 🤍

05/13/2026

🎉 Mark your calendars for June 17th! 🎉

Amy’s Mess is honored to be the featured nonprofit at the first Alive at Five of the season!

Come out and enjoy:
🎶 Live music
🍔 Great food
🍻 Cold beverages
❤️ And the opportunity to support Amy's Mess and the families we serve right here in our community.

Every meal, every pantry item, and every act of kindness is made possible because of people like you who continue to show up and support this mission.

We would love to see you there for an evening of fun, community, and giving back.

📅 June 17, 2026
📍 Alive at Five
💙 Benefiting Amy's Mess

Thank you for helping us continue to provide meals, resources, and hope to families in need.

https://amysmess.org/

05/12/2026

🩷She reached out!🩷

She is a high school senior who is trying to finish school and graduate, but right now she has very little support, limited availability to transportation and no stable place to call home.

She and her boyfriend were staying in a trailer with no running water and no electricity, except for an extension cord, and they wanted to charge them $1,000 a month plus a $2000 deposit. They are currently staying at a hotel but it is taking nearly all of her paychecks just to pay for a few nights at a time.

Despite everything she is facing, she wants to graduate. She is meeting with her school counselor to find out what it will take to catch up and, if needed, attend summer school to earn her diploma.

Right now, she is in immediate need of:
• Clothing and undergarments
• Laundry assistance
• A cooler
• Storage totes
• Groceries
• Gas cards
• Help with a shopping trip for clothes & essentials
• Continued support with lodging

Like so many young people facing homelessness, she does not know where she will sleep or how she will continue paying for a roof over her head.

If you would like to help, whether through donations, gift cards, clothing, or financial support, please send me a private message.
Sometimes all it takes is a few people coming together to help someone stay in school and build a better future.

Let’s help this young woman cross the finish line and earn the diploma she has worked so hard for.

https://amysmess.org/

05/08/2026

Absolutely blown away.🩷🩷
This is Amy’s Mess’ first year participating in Greater Helena Gives and Helena… you showed UP.
As of last night, over $1,200 has been raised for Amy’s Mess!
I honestly don’t even know what to say other than thank you. Truly. Your generosity is helping us continue to bridge the gaps that still exist in our community for families who need a little extra support, a warm meal, or someone willing to show up for them.
You are helping us keep going. You are helping us keep showing up. And I could not be more grateful.💛💛
Thank you, Helena. Truly.💗