Nonprofit aims to bring relief to Kalispell children's hospital patients, families
KALISPELL, MONT. — An extended stay at the hospital can be a tough time for a sick child and their family, but a Kalispell nonprofit is doing its part to make those hard times a little easier.
Lori Williamson, the executive director and founder of 406 For Kids, had a vision in 2018. Despite the pandemic and a number of challenges, that dream is now a reality.
The Sunshine Factory, which is about 100 steps from Logan Health Children’s hospital, opened its doors this month to offer a space for families with children in the hospital for extended periods of time. It’s a place to decompress and get away from the hospital atmosphere.
“It's probably the hardest time of their life to have a child that’s sick in the hospital. They can't believe it's happening to them,” said Williamson. “They don't know why it's happening to them, and if somebody can just give them some warmness, some love, some support, my whole thing is I like to turn crappy into happy.”
The Sunshine Factory and Kalispell Logan Health work in close partnership to make this venture happen.
Families qualify to be referred to the Sunshine Factory if their hospital stay is four days or longer. Organizers can schedule free two-hour time periods for families to decompress and relax.
“It's tough for our families when they can only go for a walk so far, and then they have to come back, or for goodness sakes, sometimes they can't even leave their rooms,” said Amy Rohyans Stewart, a Logan Health child life specialist. “They're there in isolation and over the course of time they just need a little bit of fresh air, they just need to get away.”
The home is equipped with an elevator, playground, game room, reading nook, spa, bathroom and showers, laundry facility, beds and meditation areas. It’s all to provide families with anything they could need to take a break from the hospital atmosphere.
“We work really hard at the children’s hospital to provide a really homey environment; in the end it’s a hospital,” said Rohyans Stewart.
The original project was set to cost $500,000 and cover 2,500 square feet. The final project came in at $2 million and almost 5,000 square feet.
The factory is supported by grants and donations and is completely staffed by volunteer help. Williamson says she currently has four staffers but hopes to see that number climb to 10 by September.
“The experiences I've had so far is a lot of laughing, giggling, smiling, but also just have an aha moment, where they know that there is life outside the hospital and somebody does care a little bit for them,” said Williamson.
