State of Montana Newsroom
Governor Gianforte Highlights Montana Food Bank Network on Second Day of Giving
Announces second annual state agency food drive competition
HELENA, Mont. – To mark the second day of his 12 Days of Giving, Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the second annual state agency food drive competition benefitting the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN).
“No Montana family should have to worry when their next meal will be,” Governor Gianforte said. “To support our neighbors, we’re excited to bring back our state agency food drive competition. I encourage Montanans to join us by volunteering or donating to a food bank near them. Working together, we can help end hunger in Montana.”
Feeding Montanans since 1983, MFBN is the state’s only statewide food bank. The network works with over 340 community partners to serve Montanans.
Operating in each of Montana’s 56 counties, MFBN distributed over 18.5 million pounds of food to its network in 2021.
“The holiday season can be tough for some of our Montana neighbors. Accessing healthy food shouldn’t be one of those challenges, but unfortunately 1 in 12 Montanans struggle with hunger and 31,010 children live in food insecure homes,” Gayle Carlson, President and CEO of the Montana Food Bank Network, said. “Do your part to help make their holidays just a little easier. Volunteer or donate to your local food pantry or the Montana Food Bank Network.”
According to the Montana Food Bank Network, a $1 donation will help provide at least 5 meals for Montanans in need.
The network’s most needed food items include: canned tuna or meat, peanut butter, canned soup, canned or dry beans, canned vegetables, dry cereal, baby food & formula, tomato sauce, cooking oil, low-fat salad dressings, canned chili, oatmeal, pasta, flour, sugar, whole-grain items, gluten-free items, low sodium/low sugar items.
The governor’s second annual agency food drive competition, announced today, will run through December 16. State employees donated over 3,000 pounds of food through the drive in 2021, with the Montana Department of Transportation winning the competition.
For more information on how to help end hunger in Montana, Montanans can visit mfbn.org.
###