Food insecurity plagues local communities

Guest Commentary:

Although many of us may not look forward to Mondays, an estimated 40 to 50 preschool and elementary children in Troy do, and for a reason that may surprise you. These children suffer from food insecurity.

Food insecurity is described as not knowing what or when your next meal will be. Many families in our area struggle to provide their kids with adequate meals over the weekend. As a result, these students are eager to return to school on Monday in order to receive regular meals.

There are programs to help with this unfortunate situation and the BackPack Program is one of them. This program provides needy children nutritious and easy to prepare food to take home for the weekend. Successful BackPack programs have been established in Flathead County, Sanders County and throughout Montana.

We are a group of local volunteers who have formed a partnership with the Troy Food Pantry and Troy School District to begin this program at W.F. Morrison Elementary. This program will be funded by donations from caring individuals, organizations and businesses in our community. Some of those sponsors already include Troy Parks and Recreation, First Montana Bank, Glacier Bank and the Silver Spur Restaurant.

For those individuals who work out of the area, check with your employer as many larger companies offer programs for providing donations to nonprofit causes at no cost to you. There is an immediate need to provide these children with meals today. If you would like to support this program, please send your donation to: Morrison BackPacks, c/o Troy Food Pantry, 459 Foote Rd., Troy, MT 59935.  Any contribution is a welcome investment in our children and their future!

— Angie Huisenstruit, Kay Randall, Kris Newgard and Timory Peel , Troy