Summer Lunch, SLAM Festival, Huffing for Stuffing, and more!
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GVFB NEWS
LOCAL SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
August 2024
School is still out—and Summer Lunch is still in!
IN THIS ISSUE
- Note from Jill
- GVFB at SLAM Festival
- Recap: Conquer Hunger
- Summer Lunch
- Huffing for Stuffing
- People of GVFB
- Learning Garden
- HRDC's The BOAR
- Upcoming Events
Note from Jill
Dear Friend,
Happy Summer!! Thank you for reading our newsletter—it is how we stay connected to you! As you will see, we are busy helping our community thrive. Summer Lunch for kiddos, gleaning and purchasing from our farms, the Story Mill Learning Garden, as well as record monthly numbers at our food bank ensure no one goes to bed hungry.
We could not do this without our partners and community. Special thanks to Conquer Hunger through MTN OPS, MTN TOUGH, and Murdochs for building KidsPacks so we can transition quickly from Summer Lunch to Healthy KidsPack in the Fall. Enjoy August, everyone!
Gratefully,
Jill Holder, HRDC Food & Nutrition Director
Join Us at SLAM Festival This Weekend!
SLAM Festival
@ Bogert Park
Saturday, August 3
10 am to 7 pm
Sunday, August 4
10 am to 5 pm
We are excited to be joining our friends at SLAM (Supporting Local Artists and Musicians) for their summer festival! We will be stationed next to the big information tent and will gratefully accept donations. We hope you stop by to enjoy the festival and support us if you can. There will also be a raffle to win an art piece from local artist Nic Fischer!
Use the following link for our wish list, details about the raffle, and more information about SLAM.
You can even take Streamline's special route to the festival this weekend!
Recap: Conquer Hunger
In June we received support for our Healthy KidsPack program from two MTN OPS Operation Conquer Hunger events!
Over 6,000 KidsPack bags were packed at MTN TOUGH's event—enough to supply the program until November! Around 12,000 were packed at Murdoch's event—2,000 for GVFB and the rest to be distributed across the state!
We are so grateful for MTN OPS, MTNTOUGH, Murdoch's, and everyone who joined them to support childhood food security in our community.
We are also highlighting L&L Site Services, whose continuous support and generosity we are immensely thankful for. Whether it is helping out at Conquer Hunger or supporting us during Can the Griz each year, they are here for our community!
Summer Lunch
Monday through Friday, kids and teens of all ages can join us at one of our Summer Lunch sites for a delicious, FREE meal!
Visit our website for a list of sites. The GVFB meal site will be closed on August 14. The last day of Summer Lunch is Friday, August 23.
Huffing for Stuffing
Registration for HRDC's 18th annual Huffing for Stuffing is now OPEN!
Huffing for Stuffing combines community spirit with a lively race atmosphere to improve the lives of many of our community members. Since 2007, it has provided us with over half a million dollars in funding!
We hope you attend on Thanksgiving morning for one of our events—a Fun Run, 5K, 10K, or Kids' Run!
People of GVFB
Tommy Smith - Food Rescue Coordinator
Very happy to join the HRDC as the new Food Rescue Coordinator! Originally from windy Wyoming, I've been passionate about food systems, community-centered social work and reducing our carbon footprint for many years; this position allows me to thread those interests together by working with our local restaurants, grocers, farmers and food distributors to redirect safe and edible landfill waste to those who need it the most. When I'm not here at the Food Bank, I enjoy playing guitar, gardening, hiking and seed collecting.
Welcome to the team, Tommy!
Share the Abundance
Did you know that we operate a community Learning Garden? Come down to Story Mill Park to learn about growing your own food and to pick out a tasty treat fresh from the garden!
HRDC Highlight: The BOAR
The Gallatin Valley Food Bank is a program run by HRDC. HRDC is a nonprofit Community Action Agency serving Southwest Montana. HRDC has over forty programs across various service areas, including Blueprint Continuum.
Blueprint provides housing, resources, and support for youth experiencing moments of homelessness or housing instability. Their largest fundraiser, the BOAR (Blueprint Obstacle Adventure Race), supports and spreads awareness of youth experiencing homelessness in our community.
The BOAR is happening on Saturday, August 17. Sign up today to help HRDC provide critical care for youth in our community!
Upcoming Events
August 3-4: GVFB at SLAM Festival
August 14: We are closed for staff training
August 17: HRDC's The BOAR obstacle race supporting Blueprint Continuum
August 22: Streamline's Summer Celebration
August 28: HRDC's Back to School Shopping Event
August 31: Bingo Night fundraiser with Headwaters Area Food Bank and American Legion Post 87 (6 pm at 218 E Main St, Manhattan MT 59741)
September 2: We are closed for Labor Day
October 14: We are closed for Indigenous Peoples' Day
Belgrade Mobile Distribution: August 12, August 26, September 9, September 23, October 7, October 21
GVFB Wish List
- Fresh produce
- Masa harina
- Granola bars
- Diced green chiles
- Shelf-stable milk
- Microwavable meals (ramen, easy mac, etc.)
- Pasta
- Peanut butter, 16oz
- Cereal
- Rice
- Pantry staples like flour, sugar, oil, and spices
- Diapers, size 3 and up
- Baby wipes
- Baby formula
- Toilet paper
- Laundry detergent
Donation Hours:
Monday through Thursday 9 am to 4 pm
Friday 9 am to 12 pm
Check out our website for more information.
Follow us on social media!
