Newsroom & FAQ’s

Inquiries & Requests

For inquiries from the press or other media, requests for interviews or speakers, or requests to use the Helena Food Share logo, print or digital materials, please contact:

Patty White
Communications Director
email: patty@helenafoodshare.org
p: 406-443-3663 ext 109

For general inquiries about our services, email info@helenafoodshare.org or call 406-443-3663.

 

FAQ’s: Programs & Impact

Programs

Helena Food Share is home to a number of programs uniquely designed to reduce hunger in our community. Other than Farmers Market Coupons and Senior Commodities, there are no income requirements for participating in the programs.

Grocery Share
Customers shop for items such as milk, eggs, meat, and peanut butter in the Pantry monthly, and weekly for other perishable food items like produce, bread, dairy, etc.
What is shopping like in the Pantry?
Customers can visit the Pantry once a week. There are no income requirements to shop. After checking in at the front door, we ask that a short intake form be completed during their first visit. All information is kept confidential. Customers can shop for what they need and friendly volunteers and staff are available to help with the shopping experience. Watch Here
Kid Packs
A special pack of kid-friendly foods that provides weekend nutrition during the school year for pre-school, elementary, and middle school kids at risk of hunger in Helena, East Helena, Boulder, Basin, Canyon Creek and Lincoln. Contact your child’s school counselor or principal for how to participate in this program.
Helena Food Share Garden
Our garden grows fresh produce for Helena Food Share customers. The garden offers customers a chance to get fresh, locally grown food and provides educational opportunities for home gardening.
Senior Farmers Market Coupons and Senior Commodity Boxes
Low-income eligible adults age 60 and older receive $50 worth of coupons to shop at the local farmer’s market. The monthly commodity boxes provide a staple of nutritious food in addition to what seniors can get at the pantry. Both programs are funded by a USDA grant through MT DPHHS.
Click Here for details on low-income eligibility and distribution dates.
Holiday Meal Share
As an extra for the holidays, customers receive a holiday turkey and sides so they can serve a traditional holiday meal.
Grocery Rescue
Generous grocers in the Helena area donate food every weekday to Helena Food Share. Good food that isn’t being sold and would otherwise be discarded is set aside, brought to our warehouse, sorted, and made available for customers to shop.
Emergency Food Packs
For people with an urgent need, we offer a special pack of high-calorie food that provides immediate nutrition. We prepare these packs for use by the police department, EMTs, God’s Love, and other human service and community organizations in the Helena area that serve or interact with vulnerable populations.

Impact

The Need for Food:

How many people in Helena need help getting food?
One in seven adults and one in five children and seniors in Helena are food insecure.*
* Food Insecurity definition – being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
Who uses Helena Food Share?
Food was provided to 8,776  individuals in the greater Helena area in 2023, with the majority living in the tri-county area. Kids, seniors, and families of every size utilize our programs. 99% of our customers are at or below the poverty level.
Why do people need food support?
Disabilities, health issues and/or medical expenses, increases in housing and other living expenses, unexpected life expenses, unemployment or underemployment, and social and economic isolation can all create financial hardships. Food support ensures our neighbors don’t have to face hunger or sacrifice nutrition to meet other expenses.

Helena Food Share Impact:

How many people in Helena are served by Helena Food Share?
In 2023, 8,776 unique individuals were served in 4,094 unique households. An average of 1,500 households are served each month. Overall, 32,035 Grocery Share services were distributed in 2023.
How much food does Helena Food Share distribute?
Nearly 1.9 million pounds of food were provided in 2023. That much food puts over 1.5 million meals on tables in our community.
What are your sources of food?
In 2023, 944,252 lbs were rescued from local grocery stores, 406,180 lbs purchased by HFS, 211,914 lbs from food drives and individual donations, 189,805 lbs from federal programs, and 38,864 lbs fresh produce donated by local growers.
How many meals are distributed for the holidays?
In 2023, 2,318 meals were distributed for Thanksgiving & Christmas at Helena Food Share and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Boxes included turkey/ham, produce & sides.
How many Kid Packs do you provide to local schools?
45,000 packs of weekend meals & snacks were distributed in 2023 to Helena, East Helena, Boulder, Basin, Canyon Creek and Lincoln Pre-K, Elementary and Middle School students who experience chronic food insecurity.
How many Emergency Food Packs do you give out?
The need for Emergency Packs increased again in 2023,  with a total of 5,344 packs distributed through 16 partner agencies.
How many participate in your Senior Programs?
In 2023, 1,477 Senior Commodities boxes were distributed and 270 Seniors participated in the Farmer’s Market Coupons program.
How much food does a donation provide?
For every $6.00 donated, an average of 10 meals is provided to an individual.

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