North Valley Food Bank’s kid-centered food drive to support childhood food security

When school lets out for summer, many families in Montana lose access to the consistent, nourishing meals they receive during the school year. With 1 in 6 children across the state experiencing food insecurity, summer can be a particularly challenging time for families working to make ends meet. Without school meals, the gap in access to nutritious food widens, placing additional strain on households already navigating rising costs.  

To combat this increase in food insecurity, North Valley Food Bank is hosting its annual FEED KIDS Food Drive throughout May and asks community members to donate kid-friendly meals and snacks to the food bank to fill its free grocery store shelves before school is out.  

The food bank invites the community to participate with the following donations: applesauce cups, macaroni and cheese, tuna packets, nuts, cereal, oatmeal, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, fruit cups, popcorn, fruit snacks, soups, Goldfish, trail mix, granola bars, meat sticks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers and children’s vitamins.  

All items donated are available for kids and parents/guardians during free grocery store hours, both in the free grocery store and in the kids’ corner, where kids can play and fill their own snack bag while their parent or guardian shops.  

“My favorite thing about North Valley Food Bank is the family-oriented staff and volunteers.” said Gracie, a local mom and customer. “They always offer to help me wrangle my kids when I need help. My kids love the kids’ corner; they love having their own space at the food bank and being able to pick out their own snacks.”  

Every community gift keeps the free grocery store and kids’ corner filled with snacks all summer. Please donate kid-friendly foods at the following donation stations: Safeway, Markus Community Market, Third Street Market, Whitefish High School, Whitefish Middle School, The Skola, Whitefish Christian Academy, Children's House Montessori School, St. Charles Catholic Church, Whitefish First Presbyterian Church, United Methodist Church, and at North Valley Food Bank, 251 Flathead Ave.  

People can help by donating non-perishable, kid-friendly foods or by making a financial gift online. Every dollar raised helps provide two meals for our neighbors this summer, supporting both the kids corner and the free grocery store at North Valley Food Bank.   

For more information contact Maddie Culhane, Community Outreach and Partnerships Coordinator at [email protected].