Town Pump fundraising campaign benefit local families
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News from Town Pump Charitable Foundation
The Town Pump Charitable Foundation hopes to raise over $3 million in its 13th annual fundraising campaign for food banks across Montana, including the Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Polson, the Bread Basket Food Pantry in Ronan, and Mission Valley Food Pantry in St. Ignatius.
A record 73 food banks are participating in the statewide “Be A Friend in Deed, Helping Those In Need” campaign this year.
The campaign has raised about $16 million for food banks statewide in 12 years, including $2.8 million in matching grants from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. As part of this year’s campaign, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation will match up to $500,000 in contributions to participating Montana food banks made now through Nov. 30, 2014.
Locally, the Foundation will match up to $8,000 on behalf of Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Polson, $5,000 on behalf of the Bread Basket Food Pantry in Ronan, and $1,000 on behalf of Mission Valley Food Pantry in St. Ignatius.
The money is used to purchase perishable food items such as milk, bread, fruit and vegetables. Also, the funds are becoming more crucial in helping many food bank organizations simply stay open through payment of rent, utilities, and space for storage, refrigeration and freezing.
“We continue to set records for use,” said Brian River of the Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Polson.
He said the food pantry provides over 250,000 pounds of food a year to a growing number of families, representing over 15,000 people.
“It used to be that 20 families in a day was a big day,” he said. “Now 40 families is the norm, and we’ve had up to 58 families in one day.”
The Town Pump fundraiser, he said, “is critical” to meet that growing need and is “the key to our fundraising season.”
The demand for services continues to grow in Ronan, as well, said Sherri McDonald, of the Bread Basket Food Pantry in Ronan, especially as food costs increase.
The Bread Basket Food Pantry serves about 250 families currently, she said.
“That’s a lot for our little town,” she said. “We really fill a need.”
The Town Pump matching grant, she added, “really helps out.”
“We really rely on it,” she said. “It encourages people to give. It’s marvelous.”
For the Mission Valley Food Bank in St. Ignatius, “the Town Pump fundraiser is so important because the cost of food keeps rising,” said the organization’s Heidi Riddle, “which causes us to need more money to keep our pantry stocked.”
“Many Montana families don’t have enough to eat,” said Maureen Kenneally, of the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. “Through the dedicated efforts of our food bank partners and the generosity of thousands of Montanans, we are making a difference in the lives of our hungry neighbors.”
Donations for the campaign are being collected at the local Town Pumps. Donations can also be sent directly to Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Polson, 904 First Street East, 59860, and to the Bread Basket Food Pantry in Ronan at 10 Sixth Ave. SW, 59864.
