Visits new Helena Food Share facility

HELENA, MT – Governor Greg Gianforte on Nov 26th, afternoon visited the new Helena Food Share facility to support the organizations’ food drive ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

"We have so much to be grateful for as Montanans," Gov. Gianforte said. "This Thanksgiving week, I encourage Montanans to give what they can, including the gift of their time, to support our neighbors in need. Susan and I wish all Montanans a very happy Thanksgiving."

Founded in 1987, Helena Food Share provides emergency food for 1,600 households in the Helena area each month.

This year, the Helena Food Share established a turkey, canned food, and donation drive to provide 2,800 holiday meals for those who would otherwise go without. As of Tuesday, the organization reached their goal and collected enough donations and funds to provide 2,803 meals to families in the Helena area.

At the Helena Food Share facility, Montanans in need can visit the market during operating hours to shop weekly for produce, rescue dairy, frozen products, bread, and other items. During Tuesday’s visit, the governor joined Chef Sally Beck to help prepare chocolate chip cookies for holiday meals.

According to the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN), approximately 1 in 9 Montanans struggle with hunger, including 1 in 6 Montana children who live in homes considered to be food insecure, which means they may struggle to access a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. In 2023, MFBN distributed nearly 14,000,000 meals to its food pantry and meal program partners.

Montanans interested in donating their time or resources to support their local food bank may visit www.mfbn.org. Montanans interested in supporting the Helena Food Share 2024 Turkey Challenge, please visit here.