The Flathead Food Bank is sending 35 pallets of food to the Blackfeet Nation before the entire reservation launches into a mandatory 14-day shutdown in an effort to combat the area’s ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

On Thursday, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council announced the reservation-wide shutdown will begin Sunday at 11:59 p.m. The council said the multi-day hold-off should allow residents enough time to gather supplies — a process the food bank is now assisting with by sending rice, eggs, frozen meat, fruit, nuts, toilet paper, backpacks, feminine hygiene products and other supplies.

Jamie Quinn, executive director of the Flathead Food Bank, said the 35 pallets is equivalent to about 50,000 pounds of food. The food bank is shipping the supplies to several organizations on or near the reservation that will then distribute the products accordingly. Quinn said residents will need all the help they can get and emphasized food security is an issue in the area even without a pandemic.

As of Friday, the Blackfeet COVID-19 Incident Command center said there were 90 active cases on the reservation. That figure is nearly double what it was two weeks ago.

Cases still appeared manageable on Monday when the council announced it would not move forward with a total reservation lockdown, despite 71 active cases at the time. Their stance pivoted on Thursday when the area’s case count rose to 83, which prompted the council to hold an emergency meeting.

A post on the incident command center’s Facebook states, “The shutdown was based upon the recommendation by our Public Health Officials. For every two tests, one is positive.”

The post then urges everyone to take the 14-day mandate seriously, adding “COVID-19 can affect everyone, regardless of age or health. Law enforcement will be on full force to cite and fine individuals not complying with the shutdown.”

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com