At Loaves and Fish, the Polson food bank, volunteers Sandy Fors, Rosemarie Smith, and David Murphy were unpacking and shelving a bread delivery on a Tuesday afternoon, as shoppers selected items from the food bank’s shelves.

The news that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program) benefit will be cut on Nov. 1 will impact locals; this benefit loss has people worrying about how to feed their families.  

According to the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, there are 3,214 individuals who receive SNAP in Lake County.  

Staffers at Loaves and Fish are not sure how many new people might come to them.  

“We’ll accommodate them as best we can,” Heather Fors said. For sis the food bank manager.  

Loaves and Fish currently serve 400 families. 

For 23 years, the Town Pump Charitable Fund has offered an annual campaign to raise funds for Montana food banks, and Loaves and Fish has again taken the annual challenge, which is to raise up to $15,000 by Nov. 30. Town Pump will match the amount raised, which goes directly to the food bank to purchase food items, such as flour, sugar, fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat. 

For people who would like to donate, now is a great time. With SNAP cuts and a matching grant offer, your money would go twice as far.  

Loaves and Fish also accept donations of non-perishable unopened food, and wild game that’s been processed at a certified meat processing facility.  

The food pantry is located at 904 1st Street E.