To assume a leadership role in feeding the hungry by recovering, securing, purchasing, and delivering quality food to those in need, and playing a strong education and advocacy role on hunger-related issues: Doing all within our power to address root causes of hunger and encourage economic growth.

Description:
We provide 6 million pounds of food annually to folks seeking food assistance from our various agencies, as well as sponsoring a Senior Nutrition program in Yellowstone, Carbon, Stillwater & Fergus Counties reaching 1600 elderly households each month with approximately 50 pounds of food. The food we supply to our various agencies (Family Service, Inc., Salvatioln Army, St. Vincednt dePaul Society, Community Hope in Laurel, The Montana Rescue Mission, The Women's and Family Shelter, Gateway House, and many more is either obtained by us or purchased by us and delivered to the various programs at no cost. The value of this service is in excess of $6 million a year. We also provide food and nutrition classes in our Montana Harvest Kitchen, and developed Montana's first certified commercial kitchen and food processing center to be used by entrpreneurs wanting to develop their own food related business.
We have just opened the Montana Harvest Gift Shop where we sell products made in our kitchens, as well as other items made by artists and craftsmen in MT. The store also sells donated items the sale of which supports the works of the Food Bank.
Since The Billings Food Bank must generate its own adminisrative budget, we sponsor and are involved in many special events which offer many volunteer opportunities as well as those offered through our various programs. With only 4 full time staff, many volunteer opportunities are available.

History:
Billings Food Bank was started by the churches in the community over 24 years ago to begin a coordinated effort to determine and meet the food needs of the various programs feeding the hungry. It has now evolved into an effort supported by every facet of the community and allows us to say no one in this community should be hungry. We have gone beyond merely providing food, to working on education and advocacy, and economic growth.

Contact people:

Sheryle Shandy, Executive Director, COO, (phone), (email) Arthur Collins, Supervisor, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (406) 259-9847

Address:

2112 4th Ave. N (P.O. Box 1158) Billings, MT 59103 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.billingsfoodbank.com