3 common misconceptions we often hear:
 

• Hunger isn't a problem in Montana
• I can't do anything about hunger in Montana.
• If people would just go to work they wouldn't need help with food.

In fact, over 200,000 households received emergency food through the Montana Food Bank Network's network of agencies last year. Nearly half of these people are children. They are not hungry because they want a snack - they are hungry because they don't have food.

Donations to the Montana Food Bank Network enable us to help the many agencies across Montana to help dispense food to those in need. Almost 40 percent of people living in poverty HAVE jobs, but still do not earn enough money to provide food for their families.

With a median annual income of $23,000 (near the bottom of the nation), Montana reported the 2nd highest rate of increase in childhood poverty in America. By learning to create nutritious meals, you will not only be able to help yourself and your family to stay healthy, but you can involve your family, schoolmates, and friends in creating nutritious meals for donation to your local food pantry to help others because more healthy.

For every 100 Montanans, 16 live at or below the government established poverty level. The Montana Food Bank Network's agencies distributed over 130,000 food boxes feeding over 282,259 hungry Montanans. In 2008, the Montana Food Bank Network supplemented local agencies with nearly 5 million pounds of food. From Conner to Culbertson, Ekalaka to Eureka, you name a food organization and we probably have them on our list.