Responding to the severe strain on the state’s food banks caused by the loss of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation announced last week it was providing $1 million in immediate emergency grants to its food bank partners, including Polson Loaves & Fish and the Bread Basket in Ronan and Ksanka Food Pantry in Elmo.
These grants are in addition to the $1,250,000 in matching grants that will be made in December as part of the foundation’s 24th annual “Be A Friend in Deed, Help Those in Need” fundraising campaign. The new grant money has already been sent directly to 123 food banks, food pantries and shelters in about 90 Montana communities.
Locally, the foundation’s new emergency grant provided $12,000 to Polson Loaves & Fish, $8,000 to the Bread Basket and $2,800 to the Ksanka Food Pantry.
Food bank representatives said the loss of SNAP benefits has pushed many more families who were already vulnerable and needing food assistance to the food banks. They also said that with the holiday season nearing, the money will help provide holiday meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas and meals for school children who are out of school over winter break. The state’s senior citizens are being hit particularly hard during the SNAP crisis, the food banks reported.
“This is Montanans helping Montanans,” said Bill McGladdery, of the Town Pump Charitable Foundation, and encouraged people to continue to make donations to their local food bank through Nov. 30.
Dining and Cooking