Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) conducted a follow-up survey to the 2020 COVID-19 Client Impact Survey to measure how the pandemic continued to effect Montanans. MFBN provided survey materials to 134 network partners, BackPack Programs and Mail-A-Meal coordinators. We asked these partners to distribute the one-page survey to households participating in their programs and services.

Each agency was able to determine their own survey distribution method, either placing stickers with access to the online questionnaire on food boxes or providing paper questionnaires to clients. The survey was open from July 1 to July 31, 2021 and received responses from 551 households across 43 Montana counties.

Some of the key takeaways from the survey included:

• 47% of respondents received food assistance from a food pantry or other program for the first time during or after the height of the pandemic (after March 2020)
• 82% of respondents indicated that their ability to make ends meet during the height of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2021) was a little (28%) or a lot (54%) more challenging than before the pandemic
• 82% of respondents anticipated that their ability to make ends meet over the next six months (After March 2021) would be a little (40%) or a lot (42%) more challenging than before the pandemic

For county specific data see the dashboard on our website. Or, download and print the PDF infographic.