Welcome, grab a seat at the table!
No images? Click here
GVFB NEWS
LOCAL SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
April 2022
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome Note
March Celebrations
Meet Jess Heagler
Upcoming Events
HRDC Highlight
Wishlist
Our volunteers are the vest! (oops we meant to say best)
Welcome - grab a seat at the table
Dear Friend,
Spring (or whatever in between season we have here in Montana) means a fresh start! It was time for an updated newsletter that keeps you better in the loop about our work to feed all our neighbors in Southwest Montana.
This newsletter will be arriving in your inbox every other month, six times a year. In every newsletter you will find quick updates, ways to make an impact, and a big dose of hope. With so much going on, we will need lots of help. So we have an ask for you: will you share this newsletter with someone you know and ask them to subscribe? Help us share the news and needs behind what GVFB does in our community every day.
Take care,
Jill Holder, Food and Nutrition Director, HRDC
March Celebrations
Pack the Sack
Learning when you're hungry is hard, and 1 in 6 Montana children struggle to access enough food each week. This year marked the third annual Pack the Sack, a fundraiser for our Healthy KidsPack program, in partnership with the Bozeman Schools Foundation. The Healthy KidsPack Program is a weekly supplemental bag of groceries that provides healthy foods to children across Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson counties.
This year's Pack the Sack campaign raised over $22,000 for Healthy KidsPacks for students throughout the valley. Thank you to Bozeman Schools Foundation and our community for working to alleviate childhood hunger.
–––––––––– Month in Review
Fork & Spoon's 10th Anniversary
HRDC's Fork & Spoon, Montana's only pay-what-you-can-restaurant, celebrated its 10th birthday on March 19th! With the support of our community, Fork & Spoon has taken care of our neighbors in need over the past decade while becoming an integral part of the greater food service network in our region.
To celebrate, Chef Leah Smutko and team prepared braised short ribs, baked salmon, and cupcakes for a birthday meal. The birthday celebrations continue with the Power of 10 Campaign where Fork & Spoon aims to raise $10,000 in 10 weeks for its 10th anniversary.
PEOPLE OF GVFB –––––––––––
Jess Heagler - Volunteer Coordinator
Have you been in the warehouse lately and noticed a new face at the volunteer coordinator desk? Say hello to Jess Heagler who, after 2 short months, has infused GVFB with her joy and zest. A self-described “meat maven” you can find her filling up the meat freezer between working with volunteers.
Journey to GVFB: I was raised in Bozeman and after living in Oregon for the past 14 years, I am thrilled to be back in my hometown.
Brings you joy: My cat Cleo because he relaxes me. Also being in nature!
Favorite food: COFFEE
Upcoming Events
–––––––––– Month in Preview
April 6th: Wear Orange Wednesday
Wear orange with us on Wednesday, April 6th to raise awareness and take action to end childhood hunger! Share why you care about alleviating childhood hunger by posting photos of you, friends, or coworkers on social media using #WearOrangeWednesday and tag us @GallatinValleyFoodBank
April 9th: Spring For Food
We'll be collecting donations at many local grocery stores in Bozeman and Belgrade and are in need of volunteers to be stationed at each grocery store between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to hand out wish lists and collect donations from shoppers!
April 14th: Breaking Ground at HRDC's and GVFB's new home!
HRDC Highlight
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 Streamline!
Streamline is a safe, warm, and sustainable way to travel to all your various destinations. Best of all, the service is ZERO-FARE!
In addition to being a zero-fare system, did you know that HRDC was recently nationally recognized for the outstanding service that Streamline provided during the pandemic?! While many other systems shut down, our community’s very own Streamline Bus kept running to ensure essential workers could still get to work. You can get the full story from KBZK. Public transportation benefits us all.
Wishlist
- Fresh Produce
- Masa Harina
- Granola Bars
- Diced Green Chiles
- Shelf-Stable Milk
- Pasta
- Peanut Butter 16oz
- Cereal
- Rice
- Pantry Staples like Flour, Sugar, and Oil
- Diapers size 3 and up
- Baby Wipes
- Baby Formula
- Toilet Paper
- Laundry Detergent
Nonperishable donations can be dropped off at most local grocery stores. Look for donation bins near the front of each store.
Donations at GVFB during off-peak hours are encouraged (8 am- 12:00 pm or after 2:30 pm).
