MISSOULA, Mont. — Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season, and many families across the state may need help providing a holiday meal to their family. Montana Food Bank Network in Missoula is gearing up to provide meals to families in need.

“We do work directly with manufacturers, we also work with through our Feeding America network which is the national food bank network, and we also work with a lot of vendors and bulk buyers, brokers, those types of things to get a lot of that food as well,” said the President and CEO of the Montana Food Bank Network Gayle Carlson.

Much of the distribution the Montana Food Bank Network participates in is already done for Thanksgiving, although local pantries may need some help this time of year.

“A lot of them need help on those distribution days, for the holiday distributions, and then to do the food box packing, and those types of things,” said Carlson.

The Montana Food Bank Network relies solely on donations and foundations. They do not receive any federal or state funding and they work with 380 network partners, ranging from schools and senior centers, to local pantries and food banks.

So the holiday season is huge for the Montana Food Bank Network.

“Everything that anyone celebrates is around food, and so it is really really important that households be able to provide that to their families,” said Carlson.

With the holiday season in full swing, your local food bank likely needs some help, so if you’re looking to help a food bank near you get in contact with them.