Town Pump matching $1 million for food banks
Submitted by Paula Tash
As Montana’s food banks deal with record demand in the wake of soaring food costs and other everyday expenses, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation is matching $1 million to help raise $4 million during its annual fundraising campaign for food banks, including the Libby Food Pantry and Troy Food Pantry.
Over 100 food banks statewide are participating this year in the “Be A Friend in Deed” campaign, which began in 2001. The campaign has raised over $44 million for Montana food banks in 20 years, including about $9 million in matching grants from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. Organizers of the campaign, which runs through Nov. 30, hope to raise $4 million for the food banks this year.
Locally, the Foundation is matching up to $7,500 for Libby Food Pantry and $6,000 for Troy Food Pantry. All money raised locally stays in the community.
The money is frequently 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.
“Rising costs of groceries and other household items is pushing more families than ever before to our local food banks,” said Bill McGladdery, of the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. “Please join Town Pump and our dedicated food bank partners in making a
difference in the lives of our hungry neighbors by donating today at our businesses or directly to the food banks. Food insecurity can happen to anyone.”
Donations can be made at local Town Pumps, Lucky Lil’s and Lucky Loggers, or they can be made by mail to Libby Food Pantry at P.O. Box 311, Libby, MT 59923 and Troy Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1037, Troy, MT 59935
Mercantile House of Horrors
Raises Money and More for
Local Food Bank
Local Food Bank receives a check for $501.51 and canned goods from libby House of Horrors that was held at the Kootenai Mercantile in Libby.
Photo courtesy of Toni-Lynn Backen