Montana No Kid Hungry

In 2015, Montana No Kid Hungry has been working on the following priorities:

• Target existing state nutrition programs to maximize participation, outreach, education, and benefits.  The two short-term priorities include: the Afterschool Meal Program housed under the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program.  The two long-term priorities include: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP and formerly known as Food Stamps) and the Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
• Implement Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters at the Store across Montana to provide free guided grocery store tours that teach families how to shop for groceries on a tight budget.
• Collaborate with the Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger to establish goals and develop groups to work on strategies to meet those goals.
• Connect existing hunger initiatives across Montana, from non-profit to faith-based organizations, to work together and share successes towards achieving the same goal.
• Increase public awareness of childhood hunger.

Do you love working with kids and have a special talent such as face painting, balloon twisting, juggling, comedian, sports player, etc.? If so... we want you to volunteer with the Summer Meals programs in Helena and East Helena! The Summer Food Program serves free, nutritious meals to children who are from low-income families that do not have consistent access to food. We are looking for eager volunteers who love interacting with kids to come out and entertain kids for an hour or two. Please respond by telling us what you would like to be involved in doing and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Montana No Kid Hungry connects kids to healthy food. This campaign helps families find state food assistance program and community resources by working alongside food assistance programs to increase participation, outreach, benefits, and education. As a result, this will connect families on a tight budget to free, nutritious meals and nutrition education and tips to help buy groceries.

With more than 1 out of 5 Montana children struggling with hunger, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit association, formed a partnership dedicated to end childhood hunger in the state.

Montana No Kid Hungry is determined to make no kid hungry a reality and give every child an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and play.  To learn more and/or to get involved, check out: mt.nokidhungry.org or contact (406)444-3518.