Montana Food Bank Network

A bill to help food banks purchase goods from local producers stalled in the Legislature last week amid final budget talks.

Montana food pantries sent a letter to officials asking them to continue administering a pandemic-era nutrition program for students. The federal government pays the full costs of administering the program to states that enroll.

Montana lawmakers are showing their appetite for a bill aimed at helping food pantries buy goods from local farmers and ranchers. The program could provide a windfall for small producers in search of new markets.

Food pantry operators have long said it’s a challenge to keep shelves stocked with fresh, nutritious produce. Now, a proposal in the Montana Legislature seeks to make that easier.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is again asking state lawmakers to cut taxes this legislative session, largely building off work he started in 2021. Some lawmakers are also pushing for more relief for low-income Montanans.

Food banks and pantries across Montana are experiencing unprecedented demand for their services while they are receiving fewer donations. That leaves food banks struggling to maintain services.

The new account portal on Montana’s website now requires users to enter and verify an email address in order to access their information. Before, applicants did not need to possess a verifiable email to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

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.

A $25,000 donation to Montana’s only statewide food bank will be used to help mitigate the rising cost of delivering food to pantries statewide. The donation comes amid growing demand for food donations.

The 49,000 Montana households that receive federal food assistance are losing a pandemic-related boost in benefits, although a smaller increase will stay in place through the summer.