Montana Food Bank Network Inc.

Montana Food Bank Network's mission is to end hunger in Montana through food acquisition and distribution, education and advocacy. Our vision is a Montana free from hunger where everyone has equal access to nutritious food.

Programs
• Partner Agencies
o Our partner agencies include over 200 community-based organizations across Montana such as soup kitchens, shelters, community programs, food pantries and senior centers.
o These Partner Agencies provide direct service to individuals and families in need by distributing food and grocery products to clients in their service areas.
o MFBN distributes over 8 million pounds of food across nearly 150,000 square miles.

• BackPack Program
o The mission of the BackPack Program is to meet the needs of hungry children by providing them with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to take home on weekends and school vacations when other resources such as school breakfast and lunch programs are not available.
o BackPack food is distributed discreetly in easily accessible and safe environments.
o MFBN involves additional resources and partners in order to assure sustainability of the program.
o MFBN currently provides BackPack meals at 93 sites in 38 communities throughout Montana.

• School Pantry Program
o The mission of the School Pantry Program is to supply food and community assistance to students and families who are in need at school.
o In schools where a BackPack program is not the right fit, or additional resources are needed, School Pantries can fill the gap for older students and their families.

• Grocery Rescue Program
o MFBN works with grocery stores to develop food rescue programs that provide food donations directly to local partner agencies. This is perishable food that is close to expiration date.
o In 2015, six grocery retailers donated over 4 million pounds of food to our partners in Montana.

• Hunters Against Hunger
o Through a Montana Legislature bill, in conjunction with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, hunters can donate funds to a pool used to process game animals for MFBN Partner Agencies.
o MFBN works with licensed meat processors across Montana, providing reimbursements for processing. Once an animal is processed, the local Partner Agency picks up the processed animal direct from the processor.
o During the 2014-2015 season, 38,280 pounds were donated through the program and received by 24 Partner Agencies.

• Mobile Food Pantry Program
o The purpose of a Mobile Food Pantry is to provide emergency food assistance and services to food insecure individuals in rural areas of Montana that may be underserved or lacking in local food pantries and full service grocery stores.
o Montana Food Bank Network works with local community volunteers to establish a regular schedule at a centralized location and supplies complete food box contents through a farmer's market style distribution, or as a pre-packed food box.

• Outreach and Advocacy for Public Food Programs Include:
o SNAP Outreach (formerly food stamps)
o School Breakfast Program
o Summer Food Service Program
o WIC

Through work with our partner agencies and programs we are extending our reach and service capacity everyday.

In Fiscal Year 2023, MFBN distributed over 14 million pounds of food through over 340 partner agencies.