Town Pump matching $1 million for local food banks

As ever-increasing food costs and other everyday expenses push more Montanans to local food banks for help, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation is again matching over $1 million to help raise $4 million during its annual fundraising campaign for food banks, including the Libby Food Pantry and the Troy Food Pantry.

A record 110 food banks statewide are participating this year in the “Be A Friend in Deed” campaign, which originated in 2001. The campaign has raised over $48 million for Montana food banks in 21 years, including over $10 million in matching grants from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. The campaign runs through Nov. 30.

Locally, the Foundation is matching up to $7,500 each in Libby and Troy, and all funds raised remain in the respective communities.

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.

“Our local food banks are working at maximum capacity serving more and more families dealing with rising costs of groceries and other household items,” 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 your local food bank.”

Donations can be made at local Town Pumps, Lucky Lil’s and Magic Diamonds, or they can be made by mail to the Libby Food Bank at P.O. Box 311 in Libby, 59923.