Montana
In a Nutshell: Montana food pantries collaborate on creative solutions to rising food insecurity
Last week, Montanans from across the state came together for the third annual Local Food for Local Families Summit, hosted by Hopa Mountain, at Arrowpeak Lodge in Highwood, MT. The meeting brings together Montana food hubs, producers and food pantries.
One of the past summit successes was the formation of the Montana Food Pantry Collaborative to increase collaborative work across the state, increase our food purchasing power and create a unified approach to addressing food insecurity and its root causes in our communities. The collaborative meets monthly and has been able to establish an online pantry resource hub for capacity building. North Valley Food Bank serves on the Steering Committee and our choice model operating procedures as well as our efficient food hub logistics have become an example for food pantries across the state.
This summer, the Montana Food Pantry Collaborative collaborated with Hopa Mountain, the Montana Food Bank Network and Redwing Research to develop and disseminate a Montana Food Pantry Survey. Ninety-four food pantries participated, and the results show that 1. the demand for food assistance continues to rise across the state, and 2. the most common challenges in operations and funding are similar for all participants.
Eighty-four percent of pantries reported a significant rise in the number of individuals served since 2020. Most often new customers were families or seniors. Other major challenges included decreased funding opportunities and increased operational costs. Ninety-three percent of pantries rely on private donations as their main funding source and nearly half of the surveyed pantries experienced significant fluctuations in funding availability. Issues such as increased operational costs and a shortage of volunteers were also frequently mentioned.
Most common operational struggles included insufficient storage, no transportation, and supply chain disruptions. One survey participant shared an urgent need for infrastructure improvements: “We only have two small refrigerators and lack the space to handle large volumes of food.” These limitations impact the efficiency of food distribution and the overall quality of service.
Collaborations between pantries and with local businesses are the key solution to solving these issues. The Montana Food Pantry Collaborative can work on combining resources and shared capacity support statewide. Another approach is to establish regional community of practice meetings like we have done in NW Montana since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Every quarter, we meet with all our food bank and food access partners from Flathead, Lincoln and Glacier County. We share donations, purchase local food in bulk together and work on shared advocacy strategies.
The survey also highlighted the potential for enhanced collaboration with local farmers, businesses, and tribal entities to build a more resilient food system. Further, food pantries need to diversify their funding streams, including pursuing public sector support at various levels. Strengthening partnerships with local businesses and donors could provide essential financial backing. Increased funding for paid staff at smaller pantries could help alleviate the burden on overextended volunteers and improve operational efficiency. Investments in infrastructure—such as refrigeration units and storage facilities— is critical to provide sustainable services.
As Montana continues to grow, so must its food security systems. The findings from the 2024 Montana Food Pantry Survey illustrate both the critical needs and the potential for impactful change. Addressing food insecurity requires a comprehensive approach that includes strategic investments, enhanced collaboration, and robust support systems. By recognizing the intersection of food security with broader social issues—such as economic stability, affordable housing, and employment opportunities—policymakers and community members can develop more inclusive solutions. Ensuring that Montana’s food pantries are well-equipped to meet the rising demands of their communities will help build a more equitable and resilient food system, ensuring that no one goes to bed hungry.
In closing, I think of a fellow food pantry manager from a rural community in East Montana. She closed our last Local Food Summit meeting with the following words: “I often think I dream too much, but here I feel like our dreams are possible!”
To learn more about the Montana Food Pantry Collaborative or the 2024 Montana Food Pantry Survey, visit https://www.mtfpc.org or reach out to sophie@northvalleyfoodbank.org.
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Clark Fork River has long been a defining feature of Missoula, shaping the city’s culture, economy and outdoor lifestyle.
The river is so closely tied to the area that it helped inspire the well-known book and film “A River Runs Through It.” But local conservation advocates say its importance goes far beyond scenery.
“Without the Clark Fork River, Missoula would just be another town,” said Lisa Ronald, Northern Rockies associate conservation director for American Rivers. “We wouldn’t be the River City. I think we’re known in Montana as Missoula the River City, and it’s really because of the Clark Fork River and its central role in business, in economics, in recreation, that really makes Missoula the town that it is.”
Carmen Murill, a field organizer with Wild Montana, said the river is deeply woven into daily life for people who live in Missoula.
“A lot of us would wonder what to do on a beautiful or a rainy summer day,” Murill said. “I mean, it’s really a lifeforce of town. And I think it’s pretty unique that Missoula, as a community is living and breathing on both sides of the river. It’s really like two downtowns but connected by the Clark Fork.”
Conservation groups say protecting the river begins with community involvement.
Advocates encourage residents and visitors to spend time outdoors, whether on a trail, in the woods or along the river, and to learn how they can become better stewards of the environment.
MISSOULA — Sam Forstag edged out Ryan Busse to secure the Democratic nomination in Montana’s 1st Congressional District.
Busse conceded the race to Forstag on Wednesday morning. Forstag had trailed behind Busse Tuesday evening, but he made up ground as the votes were counted into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The other two candidates in the race, Russl Cleveland and Matt Rains, are sitting at third and fourth, respectively.
Forstag leads in close race for Montana’s 1st Congressional District
Forstag spent eight years as a wildland firefighter, including four as a smokejumper, and he’s been vice president of the local National Federation of Federal Employees union. Last week, U.S. House of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, held a rally in Missoula to support Forstag’s campaign.
He told MTN on Tuesday that his campaign has been for the working class.
“We got a whole lot of people here that have been working their tail off to finally get some working-class representation in Washington,” Forstag noted. “So proud of everything we’ve done and so grateful.”
Forstag further noted he wants Montanans to be able to afford groceries, have universal free childcare and restore and expand Affordable Health Care Act subsidies.
“Hearing people’s stories and struggles and commonalities in the ways that we’re all fighting in the system that does not serve us so often, and the government serves corporations and the richest people in this country more than working people. It has been frustrating and saddening, but it has also inspired so much hope in me, like the fixes we can actually make,” he told MTN.
The 1st Congressional District covers much of western Montana, including Kalispell, Missoula, Butte and Bozeman. It is currently held by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, who chose not to seek reelection.
By securing the nomination, Forstag is slated tol face off against Libertarian candidate Nick Sheedy and Republican candidate Aaron Flint in November.
Brian Miller won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the U.S. House seat in Montana’s eastern district.
The Associated Press called the race for Miller, an attorney in Helena, who fended off a challenge from state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a longtime legislator from Box Elder, and Sam Lux, a farrier from Great Falls.
In the Republican and rural eastern district, any Democrat will be an underdog, and Miller will face off against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, who was unopposed Tuesday.
Libertarian Patrick McCracken is also running.
In the primary, Miller took 58% of the vote. Lux took 27% and Windy Boy took 16%, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s website.
In April, Windy Boy paused his campaign amid “serious sexual abuse” allegations raised by the Montana Democratic Party — but Windy Boy restarted his campaign and later called the allegations “political attacks.”
Miller is representing the victim of the alleged abuse and her mother, although he said he didn’t take on the role until after Windy Boy initially suspended his campaign.
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