Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN)

Emergency Food distribution - the Montana Food Bank Network (mfbn) is Montana's only statewide Food Bank. We work with the national hunger-fighting organization, feeding america, and have developed several programs specifically to address the unique challenges of accessing Food in Montana. We work with over 360 other hunger-fighting partners throughout the state to improve Food access and share information to address hunger and its root causes. Last year we distributed 15,770,068 pounds of Food to our Network partners throughout Montana. Mfbn partners with local emergency Food programs, schools and senior centers to feed those who may otherwise go hungry. We deliver Food across the 150,000 square miles of Montana from larger towns to remote communities and indian reservations that often rely on mfbn to provide most of the Food they distribute. We have a number of programs such as the back pack program, school pantry, mail-a-meal and mobile Food pantry. The back pack and school pantry programs provide supplemental Food for school aged children and their younger siblings on weekends and holidays from school. Mail-a-meal ships emergency Food boxes to people in very remote areas of Montana without other services nearby. The mobile Food pantry partners with social service organizations in underserved or unserved communities for Food distribution until a more permanent solution is established.

Policy advocacy and outreach program - in addition to providing emergency Food, mfbn works to end hunger through public policy solutions at the local, state, and federal levels. Mfbn works with legislators, government officials and the hunger-relief community to ensure that ending hunger is a priority. Mfbn strives to ensure that public Food programs are maximized to support montanans. By collecting information from public and private Montana feeding programs and through a biennial client hunger survey, mfbn then educates the public and policy makers about hunger and Food insecurity in Montana. Data collected from the hunger survey is used to target mfbn's outreach activities for snap (supplemental nutrition assistance program), summer Food program and other public Food programs. With the addition of a benefit access coordinator, mfbn is also able to provide clients with one-on-one assistance to navigate the complex public benefits process. The public policy program goal is to encourage long term solutions to hunger in Montana with both public and private partnerships.