State employees in Montana have donated nearly 10,500 pounds of food to the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) during the fifth annual interagency food drive competition, Governor Greg Gianforte announced. This year’s donation surpassed last year’s total of over 7,500 pounds. The Montana Department of Health and Human Services collected the most food this year, winning the contest.
“Thanks to the generosity of our state employees, we donated more food than ever before to help feed our neighbors this holiday season,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Congratulations to the Department of Health and Human Services for winning this year’s agency food drive competition.”
The competition was part of the governor’s annual 12 Days of Giving campaign and ran from December 2 through December 15. Since its founding in 1983, MFBN has operated as Montana’s only statewide food bank, working with more than 330 partner locations including pantries, shelters, senior centers, and schools. Each year, it distributes over 16 million pounds of food across all counties in Montana.
According to MFBN, a one dollar donation can provide at least four meals for Montanans who need assistance. The network notes that its most needed items are canned tuna or meat, peanut butter, fruits canned in their own juice, and low- or no-sodium canned vegetables.
Further information about supporting efforts to end hunger in Montana is available at mfbn.org.
