Originally published in the Daily Inter Lake on June 28, 2026.
On a summer afternoon in Columbia Falls, families arrive at Land to Hand Montana’s Kids & Family Pantry with grocery bags, small children, and the familiar pressures that come when school is out.
For many children, summer means long days spent riding bikes, swimming in local lakes, and making memories with friends. But for families who rely on school meals during the academic year, summer break can bring a quieter challenge: more meals to provide, higher grocery bills, and fewer predictable sources of support.
During the school year, free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs help ensure children have the nourishment they need to learn and grow. When school doors close, that critical source of food disappears. For parents already working hard to make ends meet, the added cost of feeding children throughout the day can create real stress.
Nearly one in five children in America lives in a household experiencing food insecurity. Behind that statistic are local children who deserve to spend their summers focused on adventure and learning—not hunger.
That is where Land to Hand Montana steps in. Through its Kids & Family Pantry in Columbia Falls, the organization helps families bridge the summer meal gap while advancing its mission of creating equitable access to healthy food for all.
More than a traditional food pantry, the Kids & Family Pantry offers a welcoming, choice-based shopping experience where families can select the foods that best meet their needs. Parents can choose fresh produce, pantry staples, and nutritious groceries while maintaining dignity and flexibility in the process.
The pantry itself reflects a broader community investment. Through a $150,000 multi-year Kids Fund grant, Whitefish Community Foundation helped Land to Hand establish the pantry in the historic Old Glacier Gateway School building. Today, thanks to the Columbia Falls Kids Foundation, the building serves as a hub for youth-serving organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and the Gateway to Early Learning, creating a place where families can connect with multiple resources under one roof.
The need is significant. 65% of Columbia Falls students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, highlighting the growing number of families facing food insecurity. By expanding programs such as the Kids & Family Pantry and Weekend Backpack Program, Land to Hand is helping ensure children have access to nutritious food year-round.
“When school lets out, families shouldn't have to carry the stress of wondering how they will fill that meal gap,” said Gretchen Boyer, Executive Director of Land to Hand. “We believe access to fresh, healthy food is a fundamental right. Programs like the Kids & Family Pantry provide a dignified, choice-based experience that allows parents to choose what works best for their families.”
Land to Hand is just one of several organizations helping keep local children fed throughout the summer. North Valley Food Bank, Flathead Food Bank, Bigfork Food Bank, and West Shore Food Bank all provide food assistance for local families. Additional support is available through summer meal programs offered by the Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, and Somers-Lakeside school districts.
This spring, Land to Hand received an additional $10,000 Community Grant from Whitefish Community Foundation to support its summer meal program in Columbia Falls. Each weekday at the Wildcat Garden, children and families can access free lunches and snacks through Land to Hand's Summer Food Service Program, helping fill a critical gap when school cafeterias close for the season. The grant reflects the power of a community working together—schools, nonprofits, volunteers, donors, and local partners each playing a role in ensuring that every child has access to healthy food and the opportunity to thrive.
Hunger is not always visible, but its effects are felt every day. When neighbors come together to support children and families, they do more than provide meals—they create opportunities for kids to learn, grow, and enjoy the simple joys of summer. That spirit of working together for the common good remains one of the Flathead Valley’s greatest strengths, and our local nonprofits are at the heart of it all.
Alan Davis is President & CEO of Whitefish Community Foundation. In 2025, the Foundation granted $21.5 million to nonprofits. He can be reached at alan@whitefishcommunityfoundation.org or 406-863-1781.
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