North Valley Food Bank holds annual kids food drive

North Valley Food Bank is launching its annual Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat food drive on Friday, Oct. 6.

The food bank serves about 1,000 individuals every week and a quarter of those are children.

“With kids making up 25% of the customers we serve each week, we feel it is vitally important to spotlight the needs of this population,” said Sophie Albert, executive director of the food bank. “Whether it's food insecurity or a nutrition deficit, we are committed to assisting the food insecure children and teenagers in our northwestern Montana communities.”

With that in mind, North Valley Food Bank is hosting its annual Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat food drive to benefit hungry and undernourished kids and teens. The community event runs through Oct. 31. During this time the food bank will be collecting kid-friendly, non-perishable items at its facility, as well as at schools, local businesses and grocery stores.

The food bank is seeking items such as canned tuna, macaroni and cheese, applesauce cups, cereal, oatmeal, nuts, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, fruit cups, popcorn, fruit snacks, soups, goldfish crackers, trail mix, granola bars, jerky, toothbrushes, toothpaste and children’s vitamins. The food bank requests that sweets not be donated as it seeks to balance the tradition of giving out candy by providing healthy, nourishing foods.

To locate the donation bins, look for the black and orange posters with the NVFB logo and bat symbol in the windows of select businesses, schools and grocery stores.

Along with food donations, the food bank is seeking volunteers to help with flier distribution, collect food donations and sort items. To volunteer, visit the food banks website or contact Anya Brown at anya@northvalleyfoodbank.org.

The food bank will also host a food donation bin at their location: 251 Flathead Avenue in Whitefish. More information about the food drive can be found at northvalleyfoodbank.org.

For further information, contact Maddie Culhane, Outreach Coordinator, at maddie@northvalleyfoodbank.org or call 406-862-5863.