Neighbors helping neighbors: Expanding food access to Columbia Falls despite cuts in federal funding

In our rural Northwest Montana communities, a gallon of gas can mean the difference between access to fresh food and empty plates. Many of our rural neighbors have to travel long distances to reach grocery stores. A recent North Valley Food Bank zip code analysis showed that of the customers visiting our free grocery store in Whitefish: 20% travel from Columbia Falls and the Canyon, and 25% travel from Kalispell and surrounding communities. Similarly, 41% of Trego mobile pantry customers travel from Eureka.   

During the winter months, low-income households often struggle with unreliable vehicles, inadequate tires for winter driving, and the high cost of gas. When they can’t make the trip to our free grocery store in Whitefish, families are left dependent on shelf stable foods and go without nourishing fresh produce, meat and dairy products. 

Because we want community members to have consistent access to healthy, nutrient-dense food in their own towns without long drives, we focus on two strategies: supporting small, local pantries through our food hub program and expanding mobile pantries. 

We deliver free commodity foods that we pick up from the Montana Food Bank Network in Missoula and rescue food from local grocery stores to partners such as pantries across Lincoln County, Flathead Food Bank and their mobile pantry in Martin City, and Columbia Falls. But the need far outpaces the current capacity of many of our partners. Our partner pantries are doing tremendous work, yet they cannot absorb the rapid increase in food insecurity across our state. 

To address this issue, NVFB applied for the federal EPA’s Thriving Communities Grantmaking program last fall with the goal to expand our mobile pantries in collaboration with local partners. We were thrilled to be selected as a finalist and ready to begin our proposed project. 

Then, the EPA’s Thriving Communities program, designed to serve disadvantaged communities on the frontlines of environmental and economic harm was frozen. A recent federal court decision confirmed that this sudden termination left hundreds of community-led projects across the country in limbo, including ours. 

In true Montana fashion, neighbors stepped up. A generous local donor filled the entire funding gap, allowing us to move forward with our plans for a new Columbia Falls mobile pantry. 

At the end of the month, NVFB will launch a shopping-model mobile pantry in Columbia Falls, operating every second and fourth Wednesday. Working families and seniors won’t have to drive to Whitefish. Instead, they’ll find consistent, dignified access to fresh groceries right in their own community. 

This effort builds on the tremendous work of Land to Hand Montana, who recently expanded into a new Columbia Falls space with room for food storage, distribution, and community programming. Families will be able to access their kids’ pantry and backpack program there; soon, they’ll be able to pick up full family groceries at the NVFB mobile pantry during the same visit. This holistic, dignified model will save time, reduce barriers, and strengthen local connections. 

And this is just the beginning. We are in conversation with other communities to explore additional mobile pantries as the need continues to grow. 

Food insecurity is rising, and the cost of living in our valley continues to outpace wages. At the same time, we’ve experienced cuts to federal funding - beyond just the EPA Thriving Community grant. These challenges are real, but our work is rooted in resilience and in the community care of all of you. When we share what we have, whether it’s time, resources, or kindness, we ensure that everyone belongs at the table. 

We are grateful for our donors, volunteers, and neighbors who make this possible. Together, we’re not just building food security but also laying the foundation for a more connected community. 

Sophie Albert is the executive director of North Valley Food Bank.