Originally published in the Daily Inter Lake on November 30, 2025.
Recently, a family from Eureka visited the North Valley Food Bank (NVFB) for the first time. The family had always managed to get by without the help of food pantries, but when their SNAP benefits were suddenly delayed and reduced this fall, they found themselves in unfamiliar territory. After searching online for help, they made the 50-mile drive south to Whitefish.
At the food bank, the family found shelves stocked with fresh produce and even wild game meat. The parents told NVFB Director of Development Mandy Gerth how much it meant to bring home healthy meals again. Before they left, Mandy connected them with the mobile pantry that serves Trego so they wouldn’t have to drive all the way to Whitefish for food assistance.
Stories like this are becoming increasingly common across Northwest Montana. More people are turning to food pantries and meal programs to make ends meet following this fall’s pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Although SNAP benefits were recently reinstated when the federal government reopened, the ripple effect of the disruption will likely be evident in the coming months as families and senior citizens attempt to catch up on their household bills, including rent and utilities. With uncertainty about what lies ahead, local food-access nonprofits are preparing for what could be a long winter of ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.
In response to this urgent need, Whitefish Community Foundation deployed $145,000 in Emergency Response Grants to 13 food-access organizations serving Flathead, Glacier and Lincoln counties. These grants are helping food banks and meal programs purchase and distribute food heading into the coldest months.
We are deeply grateful to our Circle of Giving donors, whose annual gifts of $5,000 or more make it possible for the Foundation to respond swiftly to community emergencies. The Circle of Giving is the heart of our grant programs — a network of generous individuals whose support strengthens the entire Flathead Valley by empowering nonprofits to serve where they are needed most.
Feeding families is truly a community-wide effort. You can help by volunteering your time, hosting a food drive, sharing your skills or making a gift to your local food bank. Every action, no matter how small, strengthens the safety net that supports our neighbors in need.
As we celebrate 25 years of giving together for the Flathead Valley, moments like this remind us of the enduring power of local generosity. Heading into the holidays, let’s make sure everyone in our community has food on the table—and hope in their hearts.
Alan Davis is the President/CEO of Whitefish Community Foundation. He can be reached at alan@whitefishcommunityfoundation.org or (406) 863-1781.
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