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Donate Today

It only takes a moment for you to get involved. Find out how you can help with a donation today.

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It's Easy To Help

If you are unsure of how you can get involved we can assure you it is easy to help. Learn about the many opportunities you have to make a difference in a homeless person's life.

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News & Events

Find out what is new and learn about upcoming events for Santa Saks today.

Santa Saks Needs Board of backpack items needed today.

Needs Board

There are many individual items that make up a Santa Sak. Take a look at the detailed list.

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Big Red Box

The Big Red Box program is our way of connecting local businesses with the needs of the homeless in our community. Look for the Big Red Box and donate today.

 

A Special Thanks goes out to our Community Partners. WS Group at Merrill Lynch, Western States Insurance and Army Navy Store in Missoula.

Who We Are

Getting to know who Santa Saks is and what we are committed to.

Santa Saks is a newly formed 501C3 nonprofit that gives backpacks full of items needed for those who are homeless and live outside.  Santa Saks gathers sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, toiletries and outdoor gear to distribute in the backpacks. The goal has been to hand out the backpacks during the holiday season both as a “gift” at the holidays but also at a time when sleeping outdoors becomes intolerable.

 

Santa Saks Mission

At Santa Saks we commit to our community gifts of hope and necessity, by providing for the basic needs of others.

 

Santa Saks History

Santa Saks is the brainchild of John(Maggie) Greytak, who saw a need for direct contact with our homeless. John‘s idea after reading an article in the newspaper was to put a face to the homeless with his gift. He had already supported other local charities, but wanted to become personally involved in offering a gift to the homeless.

One of the largest goals at Santa Saks is to run with the lowest overhead possible. Presently Santa Saks operates out of a donated space run completely by volunteers. Santa Saks has a 5 member working board of directors.

Backpack stuffing parties are a gathering opportunity for up to 50 volunteers to donate items and stuff backpacks.

We began handing out packs in 2004 and here is what we have accomplished and how we have grown since that first backpack.

In 2009 113 packs - Distributed in Kalispell, Hamilton, Billings and Great Falls.

In 2008 52 packs

In 2007 25 packs

In 2006  8 packs

In 2005  5 packs

 

37 Santa Saks were distributed in Missoula, and 15 were taken to Kalispell MT in 2008

 

Santa Saks volunteers’ deliver backpacks directly to the homeless and, through agencies who serve the poor such as The Poverello Center, Mission 3:16 (in Missoula) and Samaritan House in Kalispell.