Old Missoula

Chest Starts With Goal Of $28,000

The Missoula Community Chest was organized in 1931 and was known as the Federated Social Services. The Missoula County Welfare Department organized and operated it for several years.

Dr. N. J. Lennes was the first chairman and the total budget was for $28,000 without the administrative cost.

The 15 agencies in the original federation were the American Legion, Boy Scouts, Deaconess School, Florence Crittenton Home, Girl Reserves of the YWCA, House of Good Shepherd, Humane Society, Montana Children’s Home, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Social Services, St. Joseph’s Orphans Home, St. Vincent de Paul, Travelers Aid of the YWCA and the YWCA adult program.

Legion Withdraws

The following year the American Legion withdrew and in 1933 and 1934 the Girl Reserve and Travelers Aid became a part of the YWCA budget. In 1936 the Red Cross withdrew and March 12, 1936, by action of the General Council of the Chest, the program became known as the Missoula Community Chest and was operated mostly for social service and youth programs.

When county organizations were set up for this type of service in 1937, the Social Welfare Department withdrew and the Community Chest retained its youth programs and the Helena agencies.

Joint Campaign

From 1944 to 1946 with many war activities, the Missoula Community Chest united with the Montana War Fund in joint campaign to raise money for the local agencies as well as for the many foreign and national agencies operating for and during war times. In 1947 all the War Fund activities had practically ceased and the only national agency left in the Community Chest was the USO which withdrew in 1948.

From 1931 to 1941 the budget for Community Chest had dropped from $28,000 to $20,826, but the Missoula Nursery was added. In 1946 – 47 the Associated Veterans Relief Board was added and the agencies included were Associated Veterans, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Day Nursery, Children’s Home, House of Good Shepherd, Humane Society, Deaconess School, St. Joseph’s Orphans Home, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army and YWCA.

Since that time the only national agency has been the American Hearing Society which had received $25 from the Community Chest to be used for research. Otherwise all the agencies are located in Missoula and Helena. These agencies are statewide and give state coverage with their programs.

The 1960 board of the Chest is composed of Earle M. Angell, chairman, Tony Cocchiarella, Warren Cork, William A. Gilbert, David A. Gilbert, David C. Johns, William Klein, Thomas Payne, Vern Stoterau, Dr. Allen Wisely, and Mrs. Dallas Reed, executive secretary.