Montanans created nearly 64,000 businesses

HELENA, MT – Governor Greg Gianforte on Jan 17th, announced state employees donated over 7,500 pounds of food to the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) in his fourth annual interagency food drive competition held in December.

“Thanks to the generosity of our state employees, this holiday season, we helped feed and nourish our neighbors facing food insecurity,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Congratulations to the Department of Commerce for winning this year’s agency food drive competition.”

Launched by the governor on the fifth day of his 12 Days of Giving campaign, the interagency food drive ran from December 6 through December 20 to benefit MFBN.

Since 1983, MFBN has been the state’s only statewide food bank working with a network of over 330 community partners to help feed fellow Montanans. In 2023, MFBN distributed over 16 million pounds of food throughout Montana’s 56 counties.

The governor announced the results of the interagency food drive competition in a message to state employees:

1st place: Montana Department of Commerce (1,383 food items donated)
2nd place: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (1,340 food items donated)
3rd place: Montana Department of Administration (1,193 food items donated)

According to the Montana Food Bank Network, a $1 donation helps provide at least 4 meals for Montanans in need.

The network’s most needed food items include canned tuna or meat, peanut butter, canned soup, canned beans, canned vegetables, oatmeal, Hunt’s tomato sauce, cooking oil, low-fat salad dressings, canned chili, pasta, brown rice, and shelf-stable milk.

For more information on how to help end hunger in Montana through MFBN, please visit www.mfbn.org.