ST. John’s United Dedicates Gainan Commons Downtown

COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHER TO CELEBRATE AND WELCOME NEWLY CREATED DOWNTOWN GAINAN COMMONS TO THE ST. JOHN’S UNITED FAMILY OF CAMPUSES

August 13, 2020 | For Immediate Release

St. John’s United is expanding its mission of providing living opportunities within nurturing environments of hope, dignity and love into downtown Billings. Community stakeholders gathered Thursday morning at 502 N. 30^th St. to toast St. John’s United Gainan Commons and hear how the human services organization plans to utilize the space immediately and into the future.

The dedication honored a major transaction for two community-minded organizations – Gainan’s Flowers and St. John’s United. Having built and occupied the building since 1988, the Gainan family was pleased knowing the space would be adopted by St. John’s United.

“St. John’s United is taking care of a building that has been a part of my entire life and I know they’ll do it well, ” said Jim Gainan.

Acquiring the building is a major development for St. John’s United. CEO and President David Trost said, “Having a presence downtown has been a strategic priority of ours for a while. It’s important to our mission not to be confined to a location but to serve our community and its members wherever the need is.”

St. John’s United Gainan Commons already serves as the new home to Medicare-certified St. John’s United Home Health and Hospice, a partnership with Billings Clinic and Big Sky Senior Services.

Home Health and Hospice provides skilled services such as physical therapy, home health aid and occupational therapy to those recovering from illness, injury or surgery, as well as pain relief, and emotional and spiritual support for those nearing end of life. Brooke Rivera, Director of Home Health and Hospice, believes operating out of SJU Gainan Commons benefits the program.

“Home Health and Hospice is very excited to be downtown in Gainan Commons,” Rivera said. “It will improve efficiencies for staff to be in the center of Billings and has already provided a great space for our growing programs. We also look forward to additional programs and services joining us in our new downtown Billings location.”

St. John’s United is currently made up of a family of campuses with locations in Red Lodge, Laurel, Hamilton, Billings Heights and Billings West End. Adding a presence in downtown Billings opens up numerous opportunities for the nonprofit.

“Whatever this is to be, it will be missional, by providing living opportunities, within nurturing environments of hope, dignity and love,” Trost said. “It will realize a vision where every day for every age there is healing, meaning and purpose. If that is to become some new innovative healthcare service or simply as a place for multi-generations to gather, it will be true to our mission and vision.”

St. John’s United is a Montana nonprofit human services organization providing care throughout the arch of life – offering birthparent counseling, adoption, mental health counseling, employment, housing, and healthcare.

For more information, contact St. John’s CEO David Trost at (406) 655-5623; Tom Schlotterback, Vice President of Mission Advancement, at (406) 655-5332; or Karen Miller, Director of Strategic Advancement and Communications, at (406) 633-5457.