Gov. Gianforte Promotes Hopa Mountain’s Children’s Book Drive

• December 13 2021

HELENA, Mont. – To mark the eighth day of the 12 Days of Giving, Governor Greg Gianforte today encouraged Montanans to contribute new or gently used books to Hopa Mountain’s StoryMakers Holiday Children’s Book Drive.

“When you provide a child a book, you provide them with an opportunity for their imagination, curiosity, and knowledge to grow,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Serving our rural and tribal communities, Hopa Mountain’s StoryMakers program ensures more Montana children have access to reading resources so they can dream, learn, and reach their full potential.”

Gov. Gianforte donating books for the drive to Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer, executive director of Hopa Mountain.  

Watch the day 8 video here.

Hopa Mountain’s StoryMakers program has served over 11,000 children, providing families books, resources, and networks to support early childhood reading.

Hopa Mountain’s StoryMakers Holiday Children’s Book Drive runs through January 5^th, and is being administered through Country Bookshelf and Barnes & Noble in Bozeman. Montanans interested in donating new or gently used books can visit hopamountain.org for more information.

The organization also invests in local citizen leaders whose work is strengthening their rural and tribal communities. Last year, Hopa Mountain worked with over 100 emerging leaders through their Scholars of Promise program.

Running through mid-December, the governor’s 12 Days of Giving campaign will highlight the work of a dozen organizations serving Montanans in need.

• On the 1^st Day of Giving, the governor established a One Warm Coat drive at the State Capitol to help ensure no Montanan goes cold this winter.
• On the 2^nd Day of Giving, the governor launched a canned food drive competition among state agencies and encouraged Montanans to consider giving to the Montana Food Bank Network or their local food bank.
• On the 3^rd Day of Giving, the governor visited the Great Falls Rescue Mission to meet with and help distribute donated boots to shelter guests.
• On the 4^th Day of Giving, the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the cabinet donated toys to the Helena area Toys for Tots.
• On the 5^th Day of Giving, public health leaders and the governor encouraged Montanans to help address the nationwide blood shortage and become a blood donor through the American Red Cross of Montana.
• On the 6^th Day of Giving, the governor volunteered at the Livingston Food Resource Center and contributed a quarter of his annual governor’s salary to the organization.
• On the 7^th Day of Giving, the first lady visited the Human Resource Development Council’s Warming Center to sort and organize donated items for residents and tour its Housing First Village.
• On the 8^th Day of Giving, the governor encouraged Montanans to donate new or gently used books to Hopa Mountain’s StoryMakers Holiday Children’s Book Drive.

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