Town Pump raising $3 million for food banks

Now in its 15th year, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation hopes to raise over $3 million in its annual fundraising campaign for food banks across Montana, including the Whitehall Area Food Pantry and Jeffco Food Share in Boulder.

A record 79 food banks are participating in the statewide “Be A Friend in Deed, Helping Those in Need” campaign this year.

The campaign has raised over $23 million for food banks statewide in 14 years, including about $4 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, 2016.

The Foundation will match up to $3,500 on behalf of the Whitehall Area Food Pantry and $3,000 for Jeffco Food Share in Boulder.

All funds raised in Boulder and Whitehall will remain in those communities.

The money is often 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.

“Jeffco Food Share is grateful to be participating in the Town Pump Charitable Foundation’s 15th annual “Be a Friend in Deed, Helping Those in Need” fundraising campaign,” said Cathy DuBois, treasurer of Jeffco Food Share. “This is a major fundraiser for our food bank, and we invite residents to partner with us to help fight hunger in our community and surrounding area.”

Jeffco Food Share serves the Jefferson County areas of Boulder and Basin and north to Montana City providing food assistance to those in need.

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation has been assisting the state’s food banks with their vital service since 2002.

“Thank you to our food bank partners across the state and to everyone who has made the ‘Be A Friend in Deed, Help Those in Need’ campaign such a great success over the years,” said Maureen Kenneally, of the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. “The inspiring effort by so many is making a real difference in the lives or our hungry neighbors.”

Donations for the campaign are being collected at local Town Pumps and Lucky Lil’s. Donations also can be sent directly to the Jeffco Food Share, P.O. Box 244, 59632; and the Whitehall Area Food Pantry, P.O. Box 266, 59759.