Montana food banks are set to lose more than 300,000 pounds of food after significant cuts to a federal program that purchases healthy foods to distribute to those in need. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed earlier this week that it canceled $500 million in purchases for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, according to a press release from the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center. The Montana Food Bank Network, which distributes food to 330 partnering food banks and other organizations, will lose more than $400,000 worth of food, according to the organization’s Facebook page. The Missoula Food Bank will lose 91,000 pounds of food, or $180,000 in inventory, from the cuts, according to the organization. Last year, the food bank distributed 2.8 million pounds of food, including 228,290 pounds from the emergency assistance program. The federal program was initially set up to move nutritious food from farms to food banks, Amy Allison, the Missoula Food Bank’s executive director, told Montana Free Press. The food bank receives a variety of food through the program, including nuts, raisins, cheese and other dairy products, she said. ‘Unfortunately this will cause a reduction in the variety we [offer],’ Allison said. ‘We think variety is very important because everyone’s diets should be diverse.’ The reduction will also significantly impact the food bank’s budget, Allison said. The nonprofit will likely fundraise to try to make up that deficit, which will be ‘incredibly challenging’ if additional federal funding is cut, she said. Government funding makes up about 21% of the organization’s budget and losing certain programs funded by federal money would be harmful for the community, Allison said. If money for the food bank’s federally funded Kids Table program, which provides free breakfast and lunch for children during the summer, is cut or reduced, it would have a significant impact on food security in the community, she said. Rising grocery prices and increasing financial strain are driving higher demand for food bank services, which Allison said is expected to continue. On multiple days this year, the food bank has served more than 400 families, Allison said. ‘We’ve never seen numbers like that, especially on a regular basis,’ she said. ‘With the high cost of living in our community and rising food costs, we’re concerned the demand is only going to increase, especially as layoffs occur and some safety net programs are threatened.’ Even if other federal food program funding isn’t cut, reductions to other social safety net programs will reduce people’s ability to stretch their dollar and increase demand for food banks, Allison said. Despite the situation, anyone in need of food should not hesitate to access the organization’s programs, she said. ‘I want to press the fact that we are still going to be here even when these cuts are made,’ Allison said. ‘We are very strong, have the support of a very generous community and are not going anywhere. Our shelves are not bare, we stock several times per day and no one leaves empty-handed.’ Allison encouraged those who are able to donate and advocate against cuts like these on the state and federal levels. Donations of food and money can be made at the food bank or online. More information, including how to volunteer, is available on the Missoula Food Bank’s website. While it’s unclear how significant the cut to the Emergency Food Assistance Program will be for the HRDC’s three food banks in Gallatin County, the organization is bracing for the change later this year, said Jill Holder, the nonprofit’s food and nutrition director. Food from the assistance program makes up about 5%, or 100,000 pounds, of the Gallatin Valley Food Bank’s inventory, Holder said. The program accounts for about 19% of the food distributed by the Headwaters Area Food Bank in Three Forks and Big Sky Community Food Bank, she said. ‘With the high cost of living in our community and rising food costs, we’re concerned the demand is only going to increase, especially as layoffs occur and some safety net programs are threatened.’ ‘It’s hard to know how much the reduction will affect the HRDC’s budget, but the organization will ultimately have to find any lost food from different sources,’ Holder said. ‘That’s where food drives and community involvement are so important to the survival of food banks.’ The HRDC is holding its annual Spring for Food Drive on Saturday with a goal of collecting 15,000 pounds of food, Holder said. Volunteers at grocery stores across Bozeman and Belgrade will distribute wishlists and collect donations of non-perishable items and hardy produce like carrots, potatoes and apples from shoppers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested can get volunteer information or make monetary donations online. Holder said the food drive, one of the organization’s biggest of the year, will help support the rising number of families relying on food assistance. The Gallatin Valley Food Bank in Bozeman is serving 1,900 to 2,000 households per month compared to the previous average of 1,400, Holder said. That increase is due in part to population growth as well as the rising cost of living, she said. The HRDC food banks have enough food and those who need help should come in, Holder said. ‘Sometimes you need help, and sometimes you can give help. That’s the whole spirit of community food banking,’ she said.

Montana food banks hit by cuts to federal assistance

Montana food banks are set to lose more than 300,000 pounds of food after the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled $500 million in purchases for the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The Missoula Food Bank and Community Center, part of the Montana Food Bank Network, will lose $180,000 worth of food, or 91,000 pounds, from the cuts. The food bank distributed 2.8 million pounds of food last year, including 228,290 pounds from the emergency assistance program. Government funding makes up about 21% of the organization’s budget, and the cuts could significantly impact the food bank’s operations and the community's food security.