North Valley Food Bank’s food drive to fight childhood food insecurity

When school lets out for summer, many children in Montana lose access to the consistent, nourishing meals they receive during the school year. With one of every six children across the state experiencing food insecurity, summer can be a particularly challenging time for families working to make ends meet. 

To combat this increase in food insecurity, North Valley Food Bank is putting on their FEED KIDS Food Drive May 17 - June 1, asking community members to donate kid-friendly meals and snacks to the food bank to fill their free grocery store shelves before school is out. 

The food bank is asking for the following donations: applesauce cups, macaroni and cheese, tuna packets, nuts, cereal, oatmeal, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, fruit cups, popcorn, fruit snacks, soups, goldfish, trail mix, granola bars, meat sticks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers and children’s vitamins. 

All items donated to the food bank are available for kids and parents/guardians during free grocery store hours, both in the free grocery store as well as in the “kids’ corner,” where kids can play and fill their own snack bag while their parent or guardian shops.  

“My favorite thing about North Valley Food Bank is the family-oriented staff and volunteers. They always offer to help me wrangle my kids when I need help,” said Gracie, a local mom and food bank customer. “My kids love the kids’ corner; they love having their own space at the food bank and being able to pick out their own snacks.” 

Food can be donated at Whitefish grocery stores, Whitefish schools, or at North
Valley Food Bank at 251 Flathead Ave. Community members can also participate by making a financial gift online.  

For more information on this food drive, please contact Maddie Culhane, community outreach and partnerships coordinator at maddie@northvalleyfoodbank.org