Ensure food security for our community

We want to thank all of our food bank supporters past and present. Your assistance keeps our doors open and our shelves stocked.

On Sept. 1, we started our annual fundraiser, partnering again with Town Pump, helping those in need in our community. Town Pump will match dollar for dollar up to $7,500 on all funds raised from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30. This is our most important fundraiser of the year. The funds raised will help us purchase food to stock our shelves throughout the winter and holiday season. Supply and demand has never been more critical. The rising costs of rent, gas, utilities, insurance and basic needs has created a crisis for our low-income families. The most flexible part of some ones budget is usually their food budget. The statement robbing Peter to pay Paul, is an actual fact in most families these days. Shrinking food budgets are creating bigger demands at all the food banks and food pantries across the country. The food banks are also struggling. Food Banks are seeing record numbers of clients and food bank dollars are not stretching as far. Many food banks are making cuts to make food supplies stretch. For example, our food bank used to provide peanut butter to all households, now we save this major protein source for only families with children. We no longer can afford to buy juice or bread for our clients. We have had to make other cuts as well.

Seniors on fixed incomes are our largest growing demographic. They are literally choosing between buying food or paying rent, utilities, prescriptions and over the counter medicines. The fear of becoming homeless in this population is real.

July marked our one year in residence at 45 Mullan Road West in Superior. We will be seeking grants to update our. 100-plus-year-old building and streamline our services and food storage. The community has been very involved and committed to our mission statement, “ending hungry tomorrows, today.” With that continued commitment we hope to ensure the food security for our community. We need to be the change we want to see now, and into the future. Hunger is real, food shortages exist.

If you were considering donating, now is the time when those donated dollars will count double.

Donations can be made in person at the Food Bank on Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., or by mailing P.O. Box 46, Superior, MT. 59872. Donations are also collected at each Town Pump across the state for their affiliated Food Bank.

— Rose Duncan, Secretary, Community Food Bank of Mineral County