A $2,000 Plum Creek Foundation grant will help Bob Marshall Foundation crews safely store food in the backcountry. The grant was used to purchase bear-resistant coolers that can be easily packed on a horse or a mule.

The foundation depends on volunteer labor for the 40-50 projects it conducts each year to maintain trails and remove noxious weeds. Volunteers clear 300 miles of trail and acres of weeds annually, contributing 18,500 hours of labor valued at $310,000.

“It’s a critical need for the work we do because the volunteer crews are in the backcountry for three to nine days, and it’s tough to keep perishable food fresh,” foundation executive director Carol Treadwell said. “We want to safeguard our crews while providing them with bountiful, fresh meals. Bear-proof boxes are required because they will be working and camping in bear country.”

The Plum Creek Foundation supports a host of community projects and programs across Northwest Montana.