Hard times for Montana food banks

Danielle Switalski & Matt Unrau

Hard times for Montana Food Banks

In this economic downturn families all over Montana have been pinching their pennies. This has been giving nonprofit organizations that rely on donations a rough time keeping up with a higher demand as well.

The Montana Food Bank Network, that supplies Plains, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek and Hot Springs with their food, has been an organization that has been hit hard. Between a rising attendance of people coming to their doors needing help and donations becoming fewer and farther between, Food Banks are getting caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Food donations are down, both nationally and locally,” says Peggy Grimes, Executive Director of the Montana Food Bank Network. She says people that are normally donating are finding themselves in their own financial stress.

In the first six months of 2008-2009 the Montana Food Bank network reports that Sanders County food banks saw a 101% increase in total number of clients with a 95% increase in households using the food banks. Statewide there was a 35% increase of clients and a 56% increase in households.

“This does not look like this is going to end anytime soon,” says Grimes. “There is a lot of food needed in the system.”

Grimes says awareness will ultimately fix the situation. “We really want to put the word out. If people know what the numbers are and what they’re dealing with they’re more equipped to help,” says Grimes.

On the local side the situation simply adds up to more people leaving the food bank without their needs met. Tracy Thomas, operator of the Thompson Falls food bank says the increased demand has caused her to run out of food in the past. “I have to tell people that I don’t have anything and that’s a really tough spot to be in,” says Thomas. “You never want to have to turn people away. That’s really a heartbreak.”

Thomas says that right now her food bank got some large private donations in the last month that are keeping them afloat, so she hasn’t run out of food lately.

Although, food banks ultimately rely on donations, state and federal governments have recently helped out. In the last legislative session the state awarded $850,000 in emergency funds to be given to the MT Food Bank Network over the next two years and the federal government through the ARRA has given them $250,000. Nationwide the Montana Food Bank Network is a member of Feeding America, the national version of the Network.

Grimes says since July 1, the network has already purchased seven truckloads of food adding up to 210,000 lbs. of food. “It’s coming in the door and flying back out again,” says Grimes. Plains and Thompson Falls gave out 7,611 lbs. of food last month.

The Plains food bank is no exception when it comes to facing these new challenges en light of the current economy.  Food bank volunteer Norma Lindenmuth said comparatively to last year there is a definite change in not only the increased number of people coming in, but also the variety of food has decreased, especially in their growing need for vegetables.

“We can always use food from the garden and anything we get we will divide it out evenly,” said Lindenmuth.

To combat these hard times, the Plains food bank has been putting together Blessing Boxes, which can be taken home for a set donation.  All proceeds from these boxes will be used to purchase any items the food bank does not receive from donations and any additional items needed to meet the increased demand.  The Blessing Boxes include one of every item the Food Bank currently has on the shelves, plus 18 additional products ranging from a 12 pack of Diet Coke, Slim Jims and even a new beach towel. 

Lindenmuth said lately the Plains food bank has received much of their food from food drives, donations from local businesses such as Curves, the Butcher’s Nook and a Bakery in Polson which keeps them temporarily supplied with bread products, local churches and individual donations to meet the growing need, however, they still rely heavily on the MT Food Bank Network.  The Blessing Boxes are simply one way Plains is trying to beat these hard times.  

“We will not turn anyone down and we will find some way to feed them and get food into their homes,” said Lindenmuth.