Missoula Food Bank & Community Center

Missoula Food Bank & Community Center envisions a community that embraces food justice, where everyone is food secure; those most impacted are a leading voice in the solutions to poverty and hunger; no one feels shame or experiences stigma when asking for help; every child is nourished and has an equal opportunity to learn, grow and succeed; every senior has access to the food they need to age with dignity and everyone can afford their basic needs.

This project will make nutritious, free meals accessible to Missoula children all summer long. When children are nourished, they are better able to succeed in other areas of their lives. Improved nutrition has shown positive impacts in social, behavioral, mental well-being and physical wellness in children and adults. Access to nutrition and opportunities during the summer months has also been correlated to degrees of summer learning loss, the experience of children losing some of the knowledge gained in their previous school year throughout the summer. Children living in poverty experience a greater degree of summer learning loss, which can be correlated to the difference in experiences, exposure to activities, and frequency of meals.

Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement (MCNCE) serves as the intermediary for this project. MCNCE is a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering civic engagement, service learning, and volunteerism across Montana. Led by CEOs from participating institutions, MCNCE works to improve community life and educate students on civic and social responsibility, preparing them to be thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged leaders.