The average food price has skyrocketed due to corona virus pandemic and recent events. The FAO Food Price Index has saw a fresh record high of nearly 160 points.
A shocking 60% price increase over the 2014-2016 base period shows that hunger is a public health issue of critical importance.
The most vulnerable demographic of society is taking the brunt of this economic pressure. Now more than ever, low-income families must rely on Montana Free Clinics, Montana Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about Food Bank in Madison County, Montana and organizations that can help curb hunger, how you can use their services and where to find them.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit charitable organizations that assist financially vulnerable populations by distributing food. Their main objectives is to help low-income individual and families by providing food.
They will work through other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. Sometimes they distribute the food themselves via mobile pantry.
Food Bank in Madison County, Montana serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. They operate much like a for-profit food distributor, but they do not use retailers. Instead, they may use church food banks, charities, and other non-profit food pantries to provide food to the people to fight hunger.
How the Food Bank Works?
- 1. Food is donated to a food bank.
- 2. Its stored in a big climate controlled warehouse.
- 3. Food Bank in Madison County, Montana distributes food to various non-profits for distribution.
- 4. Food reaches to who are in need.
Who can use Food Banks?
Many Food Bank in Madison County, Montana and food pantries are locally run, with others managed at the state or federal level. Qualification to receive nutrition assistance from food programs depends on the type.
There are different qualifying requirements, but many food banks have none. Just show up during their days and times of operation, and they will help if they are able.
Here are the tips while .
- It is highly advisable to call ahead before you arrive!
- Ask about any eligibility or documentation requirements they may have.
- If required, bring all required documents when you use their services.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank was the first one established in California in 1972 and is the second oldest in the US. It operates multiple distribution centers across the United States.
Impact of Second Harvest Food Bank is huge, It helps 85,000 Santa Cruz residents avoid missing meals and empty stomachs.
Second Harvest Food Bank in Madison County, Montana is easing the burden of impossible choices for families between food, housing, medicine, and other necessities.
St. Mary's Food Bank
The St. Mary's Food Bank was a first local food bank ever established in the United States in 1967. The St. Mary's Food Bank mission is food security and hunger relief for all Americans.
The St. Mary's distributes millions of pounds of food to the hungry each year, It also operates its own food pantries to allow allow people to access food directly from their warehouses.
It also offer specialized after-school programs for kids and career training for adults.
Church Food Bank Food Bank in Madison County, Montana
Church Food Bank Food Bank in Madison County, Montana serve a hot, nutritious lunch 365 days a year, even in the face of terrible weather and ever-increasing demand.
Church Food Bank welcome anyone who is in need of a meal, regardless of the person's circumstance, with no questions asked. It also provide showers, laundry, mail, I.D. assistance and other essential services.
Feeding America
John van Hengel, the founder of St. Mary's Food Bank, went on to create a national organization for food banks. The Feeding America organization is a leader in the nation's domestic hunger-relief efforts.
The Coronavirus epidemic put even more pressure on America's most vulnerable citizens. Feeding America has helped serve 6.6 billion meals to date.
The Feeding America have grown through donations and other charitable efforts to be able to deliver much-needed food via food rescue, hunger relief programs, and disaster response.
Butte Emergency Food Bank
The Butte Emergency Food Bank operates with the intention that no individual or family in the community experiences the fear and pain of hunger. Each year we distribute about 1,200,000 pounds of food - canned goods; boxed and bagged food; baby food and formula, diapers, and baby products; milk; bread and bakery items; meat and more - to Butte area residents, about 2800 people each month. The Butte Food Bank has been in business for over 30 years and received its 501C3 tax exemption in 1992. 2/3s of our funding comes from community support. Call for food between the hours of 9:15-11:15am Mondays through Fridays. Food pick-up is scheduled for 11:30 am. Bread is available at 12:00 noon. For more information, call (406) 782-3814 or email buttefoodbankmt@yahoo.com
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (406) 782-3814 to book your appointment.
Address :
1019 E 2nd St,
Butte, MT 59701.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Butte
Help Residents of Counties:
- Madison
Headwaters Area Food Bank
We believe nobody should go to bed hungry Our mission is to distribute food to the residents of the Headwaters Area who are in need of emergency food services and to treat those recipients with dignity and compassion while maintaining each household’s integrity. The Headwaters Area Food Bank serves, but is not limited to the following areas: Three Forks, Manhattan, Amsterdam, Churchill, Logan, Clarkston, Willow Creek, Harrison, and Pony. Headwaters Area Food Bank hours: Tuesdays from 1 pm to 4 pm, Thursdays from 3 pm to 7 pm.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (406) 285-3559 to book your appointment.
Address :
12 E Cedar St,
Three Forks, MT 59752.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Three Forks
Help Residents of Counties:
- Madison
Gallatin Valley Food Bank
During the past thirty-two years, our Food Bank has grown with the needs of our community and has become a food resource center for Gallatin Valley. Our program started in a small house on Mendenhall that was donated by the City of Bozeman, we then moved to our former location on Wallace, a 1,950 square foot location, and then moved once again to our current location on Bond Street off of North Rouse. Our current space is used to house our warehouse, food distribution areas, and commercial kitchen. The Food Bank acts as the distribution site for area non-profits ordering foods from the USDA or Montana Food Bank Network. Large quantity food donations received are shared with area non-profits and low-income housing sites throughout Southwest Montana. In addition to our location off of Rouse, we also have 2 satellite Food Banks; one in Three Forks and one in Big Sky. The Headwaters Ares Food Bank serves the outlying communities of Three Forks, Logan, and Manhattan and aims to reduce food insecurity in these rural areas. The Big Sky Community Food Bank promotes a vibrant local economy by utilizing community resources to preserve the food security, health and dignity of those in need in the Big Sky area.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (406) 586-7600 to book your appointment.
Address :
602 Bond St,
Bozeman, MT 59715.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
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- Wed:
- Thurs:
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- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Bozeman
Help Residents of Counties:
- Madison
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally run program that helps obtain badly needed food for low-income people and families. SNAP program is also known as Food Stamp.
SNAP benefits in Madison County supplied approximately 40 million Americans in 2018. It is the most extensive nutrition program administered by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is a vital component of the social safety net for low-income Americans.
In 2017, roughly 9.2% of American households obtained SNAP benefits, with about 16.7% of all children living in homes benefiting.
The program had used paper "stamps" or coupons in the past – worth $1 (brown), $5 (blue), and $10 (green). These were bound into small booklets of various denominations, to be torn out individually and used in single-use exchanges.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food Bank?
Specifically, Madison County food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for Madison County food bank assistance?
To qualify for food bank assistance you must provide:
- Current state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of all household members
- Current electric bill to prove residence
- Bank Statement for income verification