Our Story
We envision a community that embraces food justice where no one feels shame or experiences stigma when asking for help.
Nourishing Community for 40 years
2022
Amy Allison Thompson joins the Team
Amy Allison Thompson is hired as executive director.
2022
Celebrating 40 Years
MFB&CC celebrates 40 years of service with this community and 5 years in our facility on Wyoming Street.
2020
Serving during the pandemic
MFB&CC is on the frontlines of responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic, serving 36,000 different people in the Store using an altered grab-and-go distribution model.
2019
Lived Experience
Board changes bylaws requiring board to include 50% representation by people with lived experience.
2018
Expanding our name
Missoula Food Bank adds Community Center to our legal name.
2017
100,000+ Services
The Store provides 100,000 services to 25,344 different people.
2017
A new home
MFB’s first services from our new home on Wyoming Street. This move allowed all MFB staff to be housed in the same building, expanded our waiting room and Store areas, provided more private resources assistance booths, and brought our warehouse onsite. MFB added a hands-on learning kitchen, EmPower Place, our onsite child learning center, and held space for future partnerships which would come to house a regular WIC Clinic and Partnership Health Center’s satellite health care facility.
2016
We found our future home
Property at 1720 Wyoming Street is identified by a volunteer.
2015
After school meals begin
Kid’s Table After School begins providing 600+ daily after school meals to area students.
2014
Aaron Brock joins the team
Aaron Brock is hired as executive director.
2008
50,000+ Services
The Store provides 50,000 services to 15,923 different people.
2005
Food Circle begins
Food Circle, Montana’s first prepared-food rescue program, begins at MFB.
2001
ROOTS & Kids Café are born
National Hunger Fellows help to develop and launch the ROOTS senior home delivery program and Kids Café, the precursor to Kids Table.
2000
1st Turkey Distribution
Our Food Bank’s first Turkey Distribution.
1999
Cynthia Lotty joins our team
Cynthia Lotty is hired as executive director.
1997
20,000+ Services
The Store provides 20,000 services to 9,830 different people.
1993
Expanding to 5 days a week
Services expand to 5 days per week.
1992
Moved into our 3rd St. home
MFB purchases the former Rockin’ Rudy’s Store at 219 South Third Street, our home for 20+ years.
1988
Bill Carey joins our team
Bill Carey is hired as executive director.
1986
Our first Holiday Drive
MFB’s first Holiday Drive raises 42,925 lbs of food and $4,000
1984
Moving into a new home
We outgrow the Creamery basement and move to the old Spaghetti Factory. Hours expand to MWF, 10am-1pm.
1983
Humble beginnings
MFB rents the basement of the Old Creamery Building. Hours are Thurs & Fri 10am-4pm.
1982
Services begin
Services begin. People request food on an answering machine and volunteers deliver from their own cars.
1982
Coming together
A group of Missoulians informally called “People Ending Hunger” comes together to form local solutions.
1980
Our roots
In 1980 the US experienced a deep economic recession. Food insecurity impacted many of our neighbors, including those affected by a shrinking wood products industry. In the early 1980s, food banks in the US and Canada were established to respond to this crisis. Many started with the intention of being a temporary response. This was the backdrop to our food bank’s beginnings.
2008
50,000+ Services
The Store provides 50,000 services to 15,923 different people.
2005
Food Circle begins
Food Circle, Montana’s first prepared-food rescue program, begins at MFB.
2001
ROOTS & Kids Café are born
National Hunger Fellows help to develop and launch the ROOTS senior home delivery program and Kids Café, the precursor to Kids Table.
2000
1st Turkey Distribution
Our Food Bank’s first Turkey Distribution.
1999
Cynthia Lotty joins our team
Cynthia Lotty is hired as executive director.
1997
20,000+ Services
The Store provides 20,000 services to 9,830 different people.
1993
Expanding to 5 days a week
Services expand to 5 days per week.
1992
Moved into our 3rd St. home
MFB purchases the former Rockin’ Rudy’s Store at 219 South Third Street, our home for 20+ years.
1988
Bill Carey joins our team
Bill Carey is hired as executive director.
1986
Our first Holiday Drive
MFB’s first Holiday Drive raises 42,925 lbs of food and $4,000
1984
Moving into a new home
We outgrow the Creamery basement and move to the old Spaghetti Factory. Hours expand to MWF, 10am-1pm.
1983
Humble beginnings
MFB rents the basement of the Old Creamery Building. Hours are Thurs & Fri 10am-4pm.
1982
Services begin
Services begin. People request food on an answering machine and volunteers deliver from their own cars.
1982
Coming together
A group of Missoulians informally called “People Ending Hunger” comes together to form local solutions.
1980
Our roots
In 1980 the US experienced a deep economic recession. Food insecurity impacted many of our neighbors, including those affected by a shrinking wood products industry. In the early 1980s, food banks in the US and Canada were established to respond to this crisis. Many started with the intention of being a temporary response. This was the backdrop to our food bank’s beginnings.
Facts On
Food Insecurity
1 in 8 families in America are hungry
That’s 12.3% of all U.S. households, including what economists call the working poor, who earn about $25,000 a year for a family of four. Out of that estimated $2,017 a month, families need to pay for housing, utilities, child care, transportation, health care and groceries.
