Town Pump donating $750,000 for food banks statewide

Press release

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation is matching $750,000 in contributions during its 18th annual fundraising campaign for food banks across Montana, including Havre Community Food Bank and the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen.

A record-setting 85 food banks are participating in the statewide “Be A Friend in Deed, Helping Those in Need” campaign this year. The campaign has raised about $33 million for Montana food banks in 17 years, including about $6.25 million in matching grants from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. Organizers of the campaign, which runs through Nov. 30, hope to raise over $3 million for the food banks this year.

Locally, the Foundation is matching up to $1,000 on behalf of Feed My Sheep and $10,000 for the Havre Community Food Bank, for a total of $11,000 in the local community.

The money is frequently used to purchase perishable food items such as milk, bread, fruit and vegetables. Also, the funds are becoming more crucial in helping many food bank organizations simply stay open through payment of rent, utilities, and space for storage, refrigeration and freezing.

“The Town Pump fundraiser means everything to our food bank,” said Samantha Nimmick of the Havre Community Food Bank. “We’re run completely on donations and grants, so it makes up a large portion of our funding for the year.”

Nimmick said the local food bank uses the fundraiser proceeds for many different purposes, including to cover overhead costs and to buy “the food we feed to our clients.”

“Unfortunately, more and more Montana families don’t have enough to eat,” said Bill McGladdery, of the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. “Please join Town Pump and our dedicated food bank partners in making a difference in the lives of our hungry neighbors by donating today at our businesses or directly to the food banks.”

Donations are being collected at local Town Pumps, Lucky Lil’s, Magic Diamond and Montana Lil’s casinos, and the Quality Inn. Donations also can be made directly to Havre Food Bank, 2229 Fifth Ave., or the Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen, P.O. Box 407, both in Havre, 59501.