Montana Food Bank Network Announces $15 Million Campaign to End Hunger

Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) announced a $15 million campaign to advance its mission of ending hunger in Montana. The announcement of the Campaign for Bigger Impact was made at a ground-breaking and ground-blessing event at the future site of MFBN’s new facility and distribution center at 5780 Alloy North in Missoula. The campaign, which has been in planning and development for several years, has already secured $12 million, with an additional $3 million needed by July 2025 to reach its $15 million goal. It is the largest campaign in MFBN’s more than 40-year history. “Ending hunger in Montana is a big challenge—and it’s only gotten bigger. We and our partners are up for that challenge,” said Gayle Carlson, MFBN’s president and chief executive officer. “Now, we’re building the space we need to reach even more Montanans through the statewide charitable food network we lead. We’re enormously grateful to all those who share our mission and have already stepped up to support this campaign.” Across the state, 1 in 12 residents experience food insecurity, including 1 in 8 children. As Montana’s only statewide food bank, MFBN sources, stores, and delivers food to local food banks, pantries, schools, senior centers, tribal organizations, and other partners that distribute that food within their communities. Thanks to inflation, rising housing costs, the sunsetting of pandemic-era benefits, and other factors, MFBN’s network is charting a growing demand across the state. In 2023, MFBN provided 16 million pounds of food—equivalent to 14 million meals—to 360 partners in all 56 of Montana’s counties. Because of its size and buying power, MFBN can turn $1 into at least four meals. “Our new facility will make every dollar go even further,” said Brent Weisgram, MFBN’s vice president and chief operations officer. According to Weisgram, three-quarters of MFBN’s network partners lack adequate storage capacity to take on more food at the local community level. “With this space, we can bridge that gap. We’ll also be able to expand our reach by serving more partner agencies—our waiting list is currently up to 20.” More specifically, MFBN’s new facility will allow it to double its current storage capacity to just over 53,000 square feet, with room for 1,600 pallets of shelf-stable goods, 160 pallets of fresh produce, and 300 pallets of frozen meat, vegetables, and other food. The added space will enable the organization to buy in bigger, more cost-effective quantities and take advantage of unexpected opportunities like large donations, while processing incoming food more efficiently. As more Montanans turn to the charitable food system more often, providing a wider variety of fresh foods is a priority for MFBN. With its new facility, it will look to partner with local growers and ranchers to help source and distribute more nutritious foods like fresh produce, dairy, and protein, including culturally relevant options. The brand-new facility, located just half a mile from MFBN’s existing building, is expected to be complete and in use by August 2025. “That day can’t come soon enough,” said Dan Weinberg, former Montana state senator and chairperson of the Campaign for Bigger Impact. “The need today is far greater than anyone would have guessed just a few years ago, and it’s only getting bigger. But MFBN is a tremendous resource in the fight against hunger in our state, and the opportunity is now for anyone who wants to help make a bigger impact.” To learn more about giving to the Campaign for Bigger Impact and help end hunger in Montana, contact Bill Matthews, chief development officer, at bmathews@mfbn.org or (406) 215-1777 or Todd Lengacher, director of philanthropy at tlengacher@mfbn.org or (406) 208-3716. Gifts can be made online at mfbn.org.