Town Pump Matching $1 Million for Food Banks

As increasing food costs and other everyday expenses push more Montanans to local food banks for help, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation is matching over $1.1 million to help raise $4 million during its annual fundraising campaign for food banks, including the Whitehall Area Food Pantry the Jeffco Food Share in Boulder.

A record 116 food banks statewide are participating this year in the “Help Those in Need” campaign, which originated in 2001. The campaign has raised about $52 million for Montana food banks in 22 years, including nearly $12 million in matching grants from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. The campaign runs through Nov. 30.

Locally, the Foundation is matching up to $7,500 for the Whitehall Area Food Pantry and $5,000 for Jeffco Food Share. All funds raised in those communities stays in those communities.

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.

“Our local food banks are working at maximum capacity serving more and more families dealing with rising costs of groceries and other household items,” 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 your local food bank.”

Donations can be made at local Town Pumps and Lucky Lil’s, or they can be made directly to Whitehall Area Food Pantry by calling Cara Sacry at 287-3270, and to the Jeffco Food Share, P.O. Box 244, Boulder, MT 59632.