MISSOULA, Mont. — September is National Hunger Action Month and the Montana Food Bank Network is launching their largest fundraiser of the year.

The organization is working to raise $90,000 through its all-digital fundraiser. It's estimated $90,000 will provide at least 360,000 meals for families throughout the state.

"Montanans experience some pretty unique challenges," Montana Food Bank Network President and CEO Gayle Carlson said. "...We've got a lot of rural communities that have to go anywhere from 50 to 100 miles to the nearest grocery store. They can get convenience store food but to be able to get some healthy, nutritious food they have to drive a ways. There's also a lot of financial challenges as well. Many of our households in Montana are barely making it through because living expenses are getting higher, food expenses are getting higher."

According to Feeding America, 1 in 9 Montanans, including 1 in 6 children, are experiencing food insecurity. The Montana Food Bank Network works with 330 partners around the state to directly distribute food. In addition to food banks and pantries, senior centers, kitchens and shelters, the organization also distributes food in backpacks to school children and mails 30 pound boxes of non-perishable food to people in rural communities.

A new space just opened that will allow the Montana Food Bank Network to serve more people.

"We have three times the amount of receiving area that we did for food distribution," Carlson said. "We'll be able to take a lot more food inventory than we ever did before."

Opportunities for volunteering will also increase due to the expanded capacity.

The Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) is teaming up with the Missoula Downtown Association to shine a spotlight on hunger in September. All month long, the Caras Park pavilion will glow orange—the official color of Hunger Action Month. Organizers hope the display will spark conversations, inspire community action, and remind Montanans that everyone has a role in fighting hunger.

MFBN is also encouraging local businesses, organizations, and individuals to join its Feed Montana campaign. Supporters can create fundraising teams at https://2025-feed-montana.causevox.com/, then invite friends, family, customers, and staff to contribute. Additional details are available at mfbn.org/feedmontana.