Gayle Carlson

Montana’s Food Bank Network is slated to lose $400,000 worth of food from a federal program intended to provide emergency food assistance to low-income populations. That’s according to the food bank network President Gayle Carlson, who said she learned of their financial loss on March 21.

The Montana Food Bank Network, already facing through-the-roof demand for its services, is now seeing more need for holiday food assistance.

The Missoula Food Bank is limiting customer visits to once-per-week. Dwindling pandemic-era funding and donations are behind the change.

Many families in the Jocko Valley commute to work, and gas prices in Montana have been falling more slowly than in other states. Add to that rising rent and food prices, and the Arlee pantry found itself in the center of a perfect storm.

Pressure is mounting on Montana’s food pantries. The demand for their food assistance is spiking as more people find themselves out of work due to the…