State Employees Donate Record Food, Help Local Families This Holiday

State employees collected 10,422 pounds of food in the fifth annual interagency food drive announced December 22, a total that Governor Greg Gianforte said exceeded previous records. The contest ran from December 2 through December 15 as part of the governor's 12 Days of Giving campaign, and this year the Montana Department of Health and Human Services won the agency competition with 9,505 food items reported.

The haul represents a sizeable contribution to the Montana Food Bank Network, the statewide food bank that distributes more than 16 million pounds of food each year to all 56 counties. MFBN partners with more than 330 locations including food pantries, shelters, senior centers, and schools, ensuring donated goods make their way to local distribution points in Lewis and Clark County and across the state. The network identifies canned tuna or meat, peanut butter, fruits canned in their own juice, and low or no sodium canned vegetables as high priority items.

Governor Gianforte framed the results as both a record and a community effort. “Thanks to the generosity of our state employees, we donated more food than ever before to help feed our neighbors this holiday season,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Congratulations to the Department of Health and Human Services for winning this year’s agency food drive competition.”

The interagency competition also reported second and third place finishes. The Montana Department of Commerce donated 2,269 food items and the Montana Department of Administration donated 1,885 food items. Officials noted that a $1 donation to MFBN provides at least four meals for Montanans in need, underscoring the combined value of monetary and in kind contributions.

For Lewis and Clark County residents, the campaign’s impact arrives through MFBN partner organizations that operate local distribution points. The drive highlights how state employee outreach can augment ongoing efforts to address food insecurity, particularly during the holiday season when demand at pantries and shelters typically rises. As community needs continue year round, MFBN remains a central distributor for donated food across the state. For more information residents can contact MFBN directly via their website.