Annual 24 Days of Giving at North Valley Food Bank highlights donation needs

North Valley Food Bank launched its annual 24 Days of Giving, a community-wide celebration of generosity running from Dec. 1–24. Each day highlights a specific donation need, from shelf-stable staples to fresh holiday ingredients and essential household items, inviting neighbors throughout the region to share what they can.  

The 24 Days of Giving supports the food bank’s Year-End Campaign, which aims to raise $500,000 by Dec. 31, to meet record demand for food access across Northwest Montana. 

This Thanksgiving, North Valley Food Bank served over 810 households and more than 2,000 individuals, the highest number in the organization’s history — and thanks to the community’s generosity, not a single Thanksgiving item ran out. 

“We continue to be humbled by the way this community shows up for one another,” said Sophie Albert, executive director of North Valley Food Bank. “In a year when food insecurity is rising nationwide, our neighbors are ensuring that families from Whitefish to Trego and Olney to Essex can gather around tables filled with fresh, nourishing food. Every donation, whether it’s a can of soup or a major gift, strengthens our shared commitment to dignity, community, and wellbeing.” 

This year’s 24 Days of Giving builds on countless acts of kindness seen throughout 2025. From local businesses hosting food drives to volunteers greeting neighbors with warmth at mobile pantries, the campaign honors the collective effort that makes food security possible in the region. 

Community members can participate by donating food items, hosting a food drive, or making a financial gift in support of the food bank’s free grocery store, ready-to-(h)eat meals, mobile pantries and rural pantry deliveries partner programs. 

North Valley Food Bank is especially seeking hams, cheese, and crescent rolls delivered before Dec. 16; monetary donations to help purchase 800 dozen eggs and additional fresh produce for holiday distribution; diapers in all sizes; and menstrual products, including pads, tampons and other period supplies. 

Every contribution helps fill tables with fresh, nourishing food and strengthens the network of care across Northwest Montana. 

For more information about the 24 Days of Giving or to learn how to get involved, visit www.northvalleyfoodbank.org or contact Mandy Gerth, director of development, at [email protected]