State Employees Donate Food To Food Bank Network

After wrapping up his 12 Days of Giving campaign last week, Gov. Greg Gianforte has announced state employees donated 4,500 pounds of food to the Montana Food Bank Network in his third annual interagency food drive competition.

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

Launched by the governor on the second day of his 12 Days of Giving campaign, the third annual interagency food drive ran from Nov. 29 to Dec. 13 to benefit MFBN.

Helping feed Montanans since 1983, MFBN is the only statewide hunger-fighting organization in the state. The network works with over 340 partners across Montana’s 56 counties to provide nutritious, high-quality food to Montanans. MFBN distributed over 16.7 million pounds of food to its network in 2022.

The governor announced the results of the interagency food drive competition in a message to state employees: First place: Montana Department of Administration (1,049 food items donated) Second place: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (863 food items donated) Third place: Montana Department of Revenue (595 food items donated) According to MFBN, a $1 donation will help provide at least five meals for Montanans in need.

The network’s most needed food items include canned tuna or meat, peanut butter, canned soup, canned or dry beans, canned vegetables, dry cereal, baby food and formula, tomato sauce, cooking oil, low-fat salad dressings, canned chili, oatmeal, pasta, flour, sugar, whole-grain items, gluten- free items and low sodium/ low sugar items.

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