- What: A Spring Food Drive
- When: April 10th, 2021
- Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Where: Grocery stores around Bozeman and Belgrade, Montana
- Goal: 15,000 lbs. of food donations to benefit the Gallatin Valley Food Bank and childhood nutrition programs
- Volunteer Here
Help us combat hunger in the Gallatin Valley:
Community food and fund drives provide nutritious food and vital operating funds for Gallatin Valley Food Bank while raising awareness of hunger issues in our community. Food drives provide some of the healthiest and highest-quality food the Gallatin Valley Food Bank receives.
The Spring for Food drive is an opportunity to support a sustainable supply of food during a time when donations are less frequent. In addition, with the onset of COVID-19 last March, the Food Bank halted all food drive efforts and did not begin taking individual donations until October of 2020 (due to safety concerns) This significantly impacted their food supply.
How can you help?
It’s easy to get involved. Invite your family and friends to join you on April 10th to collect food at one of the participating grocery stores in our area. Your contribution (food, funds, or time) will support the distribution of groceries to area families, in addition to supplementing the KidsPack and KidsPantry programs, which provide weekend nutritional support so kids show up ready to learn each Monday.
This year, we’re setting up central donation points at participating supermarkets in Bozeman and Belgrade so that people can donate as they’re shopping. To volunteer click HERE
To learn more about Childhood Hunger in Montana, click HERE.
Join Us On Facebook
Volunteer
Please fill out the volunteer form below and select a grocery store close to where you live. Volunteers are encouraged to pull together a small group of friends and family to join them in making this event a huge success.
What we are asking:
- Before the Event: Sign up on the form below to register at one of the local grocery stores for a two-hour shift. This is a large volunteer effort, so please make sure you are available at the time you sign up for, as rescheduling will be a challenge.
- The Day of the Event: Show up at the supermarket you’ve signed up for. Employees of the food bank or volunteers from the previous shift will provide training. Volunteers will be responsible for handing out wish lists of desired donation items and receiving donations in our watermelon bins.
- After the Event: As the food drive winds down, a truck or van will come to your location to pick up our food bins. The final volunteer shift (1:45-3 PM) will be responsible for waiting until the truck arrives. We expect all pick-up vehicles to arrive before by 3 but, if you are on the last shift, make sure your schedule is flexible in case there are unanticipated delays.
To volunteer with Spring for Food click HERE
Monetary Donation:
Monetary donations support the purchase of food products for our shelves. If you are unable to participate this year and would like to contribute, consider making a monetary donation towards this year's food drive, you can do so through the Gallatin Valley Food Bank's secure website.
Childhood Hunger Awareness Week
Did you know that according to Feeding America, the outbreak of COVID has increased child food insecurity in Montana by 36%, and about 30% of all individuals currently receiving food from the food bank are children?
The upcoming annual Spring Food drive event takes place in conjunction with Fight Childhood Hunger Week, April 5th – 9th. Raising awareness of the issue of childhood hunger while helping schools and communities to support food resource programs that provide students with the meals they need to succeed.
Join by donating during Spring for Food or participate in any number of fun activities taking place that week visit our Facebook page for the most current information: https://www.facebook.com/GallatinValleyFoodBank
Gallatin Valley Food Bank
GVFB Mission: To improve food security throughout Southwest Montana. GVFB is one of HRDC’s Food and Nutrition Programs working to ensure no one goes to bed hungry.
Other HRDC Food and Nutrition Programs include Summer Lunch, Healthy Kidspack, Senior Groceries, Big Sky Community Food Bank, Headwaters Area Food Bank, and Fork & Spoon
Impact:
- During the 2019-2020 fiscal year Gallatin Valley Food Bank distributed 1,904,499 pounds of food.
- Gallatin Valley Food Bank serves an average 1,160 households (roughly 3,000 individuals) every month by providing groceries at our Bozeman location and our satellite service in Belgrade.
- On average, 7,246 pounds (3.6 tons) of food is distributed to families every day.
- 15% of households are single-parent families, 29% of households have at least one child, and 30% are under 18.
- Out of that total, 121,265 pounds of food went to other area nonprofits, the Fork and Spoon, CSFP and KidsPack. This took an extraordinary effort by hundreds of volunteers and dedicated staff.
- Volunteers are vital to fighting hunger. While volunteering has looked different during COVID-19, volunteers are still the backbone of our efforts. Volunteers contribute tens of thousands of hours to help alleviate hunger in the Gallatin Valley.
Thank you for contributing your time, energy, and donations to Spring for Food 2021!
Principal Sponsors
The event is brought to you by the generous support of Cardinal Distributing, First Security Bank, and KBZK in conjunction with the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.
