November 21, 2006
Use of Emergency Food Supply
on the Rise in Montana
by Eat Right Montana
As the holiday season approaches and Thanksgiving is mere days away, there are some who will not be taking time off to relax: the food banks and food pantries around the state. They will be gearing up for their busiest time of year.
“Thanksgiving marks the start of one of our busiest times of year,” said Peggy Grimes, executive director of the nonprofit Montana Food Bank Network.
The network is a statewide organization that serves needy individuals and families by gathering and distributing donated food to 154 emergency food programs around the state. Among these programs are about 97 food pantries, some youth homes, low-income day-care centers, and senior centers.
“Very often people use the terms ‘food bank’ and ‘food pantry’ interchangeably,” said Grimes. “But actually there is a difference. Food banks collect food and distribute to agencies that serve the low-income population, while food pantries provide food directly to individuals.”
When asked about trends in emergency food provision in Montana, Grimes sighed.
“We just completed a comparison of food pantry visits over the past seven years,” she said. “Between 2004 and 2005, the number of food pantry clients went from 78,529 to 213,895. When we took an overall count of the number of visits to an emergency food facility, the number went from 456,226 in 2004 to 804,536 in 2005. These numbers represent the reality of how much food needs to move through the emergency food system in Montana.”
Why the recent increases in food pantry use?
“Rising fuel costs hit Montanans hard,” Grimes explained. “When fuel prices rise in Montana, most folks living on a tight budget don’t have the option to take a bus or subway to work. The money has to come from somewhere, and the food budget is usually the target.
“Food insecurity is not a problem unto itself – it is a symptom of poverty,” she added. “Until we solve poverty issues, we are not going to be able to solve hunger and food insecurity issues. Until people are making a living wage and able to support themselves in a socially acceptable manner, the emergency food system is going to function at the same intensity it is now.”
Montana has a very low unemployment rate, but is rated number two in the nation for people holding two jobs and number one in the nation for people holding three jobs.
“The only way many people are keeping their head above water is to hold down two or more jobs,” Grimes said. “And even at this, they still need to resort to emergency food resources now and then.”
Looking to the future, Grimes and her hardworking group at the Food Bank Network are readying themselves for the upcoming holiday season, when they anticipate providing food for as many as 1.14 million meals during November and December.
When asked what tops her wish list for the holiday season, Grimes doesn’t skip a beat.
“A living wage for Montanans,” she said. “Until we as a society address the fact that so many people have to choose between paying the rent or buying groceries, emergency food resources will serve more as grocery stores for those living in poverty. I’d like to see emergency food resources move back into the realm of what they were originally intended: emergencies.”
Want to Help?
If you would like to donate food to your local food bank or pantry this holiday season, here is a “wish list” of non-perishable foods that would be especially appreciated:
Grains:
Rice pilaf
Rigatoni
Cereal
Quick bread mix
Flour (white or whole wheat)
Graham crackers
Noodle soup
Brown rice
Cream of wheat
OatmealVegetables and Fruits:
Spaghetti sauce
Canned vegetables
Vegetable soup
Baby food vegetables
Baby food fruit
Applesauce
Canned pumpkin
Canned peaches/pearsMilk Group Items:
Meat Group Items:
Infant formula
Evaporated milk
Parmesan cheese
Shelf stable pudding
Dried beans/peas
Nuts
Peanut butter
Beef stew
Fats/Oils/Sweets:
Lite salad dressings
Sugar
Preserves
Jelly
Syrup
For more information on food banks, food pantries, and other emergency food programs, visit America’s Second Harvest at: www.secondharvest.org or call them at (800)-771-2303
To find information on resources in your local area, check out the food bank locater at: http://www.secondharvest.org/zip_code.jsp.
(Eat Right Montana is a coalition promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles. Sponsors are the American Heart Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Montana Beef Council, Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana Dietetic Association, MSU Extension Service, Montana Office of Public Instruction, Montana Team Nutrition Program, North Dakota WIC Program, and Western Dairy Council. For more information, visit www.montanadieteticassociation.org.)
