The Town Pump Charitable Foundation seeks to raise a record $2 million this year during its ninth annual fundraising campaign for Montana food banks, including the Libby Food Pantry and the Troy Food Pantry.

As part of the campaign, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation will match up to $350,000 in contributions to Montana food banks made now through Nov. 30. A record 56 food banks are participating this year.

Locally, the foundation will match up to $3,000 on behalf of the Libby Food Pantry and $2,000 on behalf of the Troy Food Pantry. All funds raised will benefit the local communities exclusively.

The money is used to purchase perishable food items such as milk, bread, fruit and vegetables. Also, the funds are becoming more crucial in helping many food bank organizations simply stay open through payment of rent, utilities and space for storage, refrigeration and freezing.

Kathy Lauer of the Libby Food Bank said the Town Pump fundraiser will help meet a demand that continues to increase.

“Right about now the ones that had jobs are losing them,” she said. “We’re sitting at 171 families, which is up considerably from what we did have. I expect the number to go even higher.”

The “Be A Friend in Deed, Helping Those In Need” campaign raised a record $1.72 million last year alone. The campaign has raised over $6.6 million for food banks statewide in eight years.

Donations for the campaign are being collected at the local Town Pumps, Lucky Lil’s and Lucky Logger casinos. Donations also can be sent directly to Libby Food Pantry, P.O. Box 311, Libby, MT 59923; or to the Troy Food Pantry, 611 Foote Road, Troy, MT 59935.