We strive to bring you the latest information. This page was originally published on 3/23/20 and most recently updated on 8/17/20

Over the past months, Montana Food Bank Network has been working hard to address the changing needs of our network partners and neighbors struggling with food insecurity in our state.  Much has changed since the impacts of coronavirus were first felt by Montanans.  One thing that has not changed during this time is Montanans supporting each other and our community.  We have seen such an outpouring of support that we are humbled to be able to do the work that you have deemed vital during this time.  

Montana Food Bank Network is committed to ensuring everyone in Montana, no matter what community they live in, has access to the healthy and fresh food that they need to keep thriving. We are continuing to work during Governor Bullock’s Phase 2 Reopening Order as an essential service for all Montanans across the state that are facing food insecurity. To safely maintain our daily operations we have made several adjustments. You can read our response in its’ entirety here >>

Montana Food Bank Network is working with Feeding America and our Network partners across the state to support the changes being implementing in their distribution numbers, methods, hours, etc to meet the increasing demand during the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

As we expected to see COVID-19 has had a significant economic impact on the state of Montanan. This pandemic has a dramatic increase in the need for food in these past few months. With low-income households and senior citizens feeling the biggest impact.

Due to businesses closing or changing their business model, the unemployment rate in Montana jumped from 3.5% in February to 11.3% in April[1].  While businesses are currently reopening under the Governor’s Phase 2 directives, many are returning to work at reduced hours, if they are able to return at all.

We are working to keep the public notified of information and updates via this page as new information is received. Additionally, an e-newsletter will be sent to subscribers of our “Hunger Updates” e-newsletter.   Sign up to receive our e-newsletter at the bottom of our homepage at MFBN.org. 

[1] Seasonally adjusted, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.mt.htm)

If you need food

Our Network has risen to meet the challenges head on. With few exceptions our partner food pantries are open and committed to providing food for those in need. You can find the closest resource to you here. Below are listed all the changes in their services that we are aware of. However, we encourage anyone looking for food assistance to call before showing up as changes in hours and services are happening daily.

Changes in Network services due to COVID-19

• Absarokee Area Food Bank, Absarokee: Limiting contact with seniors, Grab-N-Go Distribution
• Alberton Community Food Pantry, Alberton: Prepacked Grab And Go distribution.
• Beaverhead Community Food Pantry, Dillon: Outside walk up services. Extended hours Wednesdays 10 am – 3:30 pm
• Big Sky Community Food Bank, Big Sky: Drive through or walk up distribution. Clients can now come 2 times per month. New hours: Tues and Thurs 3-7 and Mon and Fri 11-3
• Bigfork Food Bank, Bigfork: Distributing food boxes and limiting the number of customers. No volunteers . New hours: Only open 1 day per month and offering double the amount of food.
• Bounty of the Bridgers Campus Food Pantry, Bozeman: Online appointment only. Drive up style distribution.
• Boys & Girls of Dawson County, Sidney: Facility Closed until further notice.
• Bridger Community Food Bank, Bridger: Curb Side distribution and Door/porch delivery.
• Butte Emergency Food Bank, Butte: Walk up or drive through distribution. Hours expanded to 7 am – 12 pm.
• Carter County Food Bank, Ekalaka: Courthouse closed. Current food bank clients have been contacted. New clients should call if supplies are needed.
• Central Montana Community Cupboard, Lewistown: Food boxes with walk up distribution.
• Chinook Food Pantry, Chinook: Temporary 2 week closure. On call for emergency boxes only.
• Clark Fork City Foods, Missoula: Outside distribution.
• Community Hope, Laurel: Call, walk up and drive through distribution.
• Custer County Food Bank, Miles City: Food boxes available. 2 person at a time limit.
• Darby Bread Box, Darby: Outside drive through distribution.
• Family Service, Billings: Walk up distribution. Thrift Store closed. New hours are Monday – Friday 10 am – 3 pm.
• Fast Blackfoot Food Center, Fairfield: Drive thru distribution.
• Feed My Sheep, Havre: Providing grab and go lunches on site. No dining room services.
• Fellowship Food Pantry, Sidney: Open by appointment only. Delivery available, if needed.
• Flathead Food Bank, Kalispell: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. No clients allowed inside the building. Hours have been expanded.
• Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Bozeman: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. Asking clients to stay in vehicles. Bread room and lobby are closed. Hours: Food box distribution is 1-4 pm. Evening distribution is suspended.
• Gardiner Food Pantry, Gardiner: Limiting physical contact.
• Harvest Food Pantry, Cut Bank: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. No Clients in Pantry.
• Haven House, Hamilton: Distributing food boxes at entrance.
• Havre Food Bank, Havre: Clients asked to remain in car boxes are being distributed directly to cars. Limiting customers in the building to 1 at a time. Adjusted hours: Wednesdays are reserved for seniors only.
• Headwaters Area Food Bank, Three Forks: Extended hours.
• Helena Food Share, Helena: Pre-pack food boxes, Grab-N-Go style. Limit twice per month.
• Livingston Food Resource Center, Livingston: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. No clients in food pantry.
• Malta Food Bank, Malta: Only 2 volunteers in building at any time. Customers are required to call ahead, food boxes distributed outside. No customers in the building until further notice.
• Meagher County Food Bank, White Sulphur Springs: Drive through distribution.
• Miles City Soup Kitchen, Miles City: Shut down until further notice.
• Mineral County Food Bank, Superior: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. No clients allowed inside the building.
• Missoula Senior Center, Missoula: Switched to Grab-N-Go meals. New hours at Monday – Friday 11:30 am – 1 pm.
• North Valley Food Bank, Whitefish: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. No clients allowed inside the building. Some boxes delivered to the seniors. Hours have been expanded.
• Northern Montana Child Development Center, Havre: Facility Closed until further notice.
• Pantry Partners, Stevensville: Distributing curbside boxes, accepting a reduced number of volunteers, no clients allowed in building.
• Pondera Food Pantry, Conrad: Walk up distribution.
• Poverello Center, Missoula: Food pantry closed. Grab-N-Go meals still being provided.
• Project Hope of Columbus, Columbus: Drive through distribution; Backpack meals available for pickup. Hours: Wednesday 11-1, 1st Sat. of month 11-1, or by appointment.
• River of Hope Food Bank, East Missoula: Outdoor Drive thru style distribution. Extended hours to every Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm and every Wednesday from 5 – 6:30 pm.
• Sagebrush Food Pantry, Shelby: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. No clients in pantry. Extended hours.
• Salvation Army, Great Falls: Distributing curbside boxes.
• Salvation Army, Missoula: Hygiene center is closed. Make appointments for assistance applying for unemployment, housing, jobs and other needs.
• Salvation Army, Helena: Walk up distribution.
• Seeley-Swan Community Food Bank, Seeley Lake: Customers are asked to call ahead and wait outside. Food box will be placed outside of the door for customers to pick up.
• Soft Landing, Missoula: Closed to the public. Doing deliveries of food and diapers to existing clients.
• St. Ignatius Senior Center, St. Ignatius: Drive up distribution and delivery service.
• St. Labre Food Pantry, Ashland: Grab and Go style, clients are asked to knock or ring bell and food will delivered to them outside.
• St. Vincent De Paul, Great Falls: Distributing food boxes. Referral forms are now being completed at St. Vincent De Paul instead of Opportunities, Inc. Walk in services open with 3 person limit.
• Teton County Food Pantry, Choteau: Distributing food boxes. No clients in building. Hours are as needed.
• Troy Community Baptist Church Food Pantry, Troy : Drive up distribution.
• UM Food Pantry, Missoula: Grab and Go kits right outside the pantry on Tuesdays and Fridays.
• Union Gospel Mission, Missoula: Thrift store closed.
• Valley County Council on Aging, Glasgow: Food boxes being provided in emergency situations only. Must call. Meals on wheels is still operating.
• Valley County Food Bank, Glasgow: Building closed. Local volunteers will be delivering boxes to each client that has used the food bank in the past two months. No set schedule for deliveries yet.
• West Shore Food Bank, Lakeside: Outside, walk-up distribution.
• West Yellowstone Food Bank, West Yellowstone: Distributing food boxes in a drive thru style. SNAP/Medicaid applications. Unemployment computer.
• The Yaak Food Cupboard, Troy: Drive up/ Walk up distribution.
• YWCA Missoula, Missoula: Main office and thrift stores closed.

Additional services

Challenges the Network is facing

• The Network has seen a significant decline in Grocery Rescue as the panic buying in grocery stores continue. In 2019, 9.4 million pounds of food were donated through our Grocery Rescue Program to our network partners. Grocery Rescue donations include fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs and many other expensive hard to access foods. Because of the decline in Grocery Rescue, network partners are now turning to Montana Food Bank Network to provide more of these items than we have in the past.  Montana Food Bank Network is working with local and national partners to acquire additional foods to supplement the loss of Grocery Rescue product for the duration. 
• Senior centers have closed which means congregate meal sites that provide many seniors with consistent access to hot, nutritious meals, have ceased. Meal delivery programs are still going for now, but many have limited outreach due to lack of volunteers. Many partners have adjusted their services to allow for some home deliveries to seniors. However, we expect to see a significant increase of use in service at Network food pantries for seniors. 
• Schools are closed. This lays a significant unexpected burden on families. Access to free and reduced-price breakfast and lunches for all children under the age of 18 has transitioned to grab-n-go meals as well as deliveries along many bus routes. This solution is great as long as it continues. However, many families are facing additional childcare costs and/or possible job loss due to increased layoffs. Our Network has already seen significant increases in the number of new client visits in the past week. As business and school closures continue, we expect this number to rise significantly. 
• Our Network food pantries are reporting 20-30% increases in visits.

Get involved

Many of our partners are experiencing shifts and changes in their donation and/or volunteer needs. We recommend checking your local pantry’s Facebook page before visiting in person. Many are listing specifics there. 

• GIVE FUNDS: All partners working to provide for their communities are doing so at a significant increased expense. Monetary donations help increase the buying power of the Network and allows us to increase the efficiency of our food distribution model. You can make a donation directly to Montana Food Bank Network here >> 
• VOLUNTEERS: To ensure the safety of our food, Montana Food Bank Network as well as many of our partners cannot accept volunteers at this time. We encourage you to check Facebook or call to verify specific details at your local pantry.
• HELP US MEET A MATCH: The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation have generously donated $25,000 to the ongoing relief of the Cornoavirus pandemic. There is also an additional $12,500 in matching funds. Your donation could have twice the impact by helping us meet this match. Donate here>>>
• SHOP AT ALBERTSONS: March 25- April 14 Albertsons grocery stores in Montana will match all donations made in-store. Make a donation and double the impact. In addition, there is an online platform so that the community can make a donation online instead of in-store, if they choose. Donations will stay local to help neighbors in our community.
• STAY INFORMED: Sign up at the bottom of this page to receive weekly e-newlsetter updates or follow us on Facebook for regular updates.

THANK YOU to all those that have stepped up to provide amazing community support during this unprecedented times. Find a list of those who have reached out in support of us here >>