Empower Place

We envision a community that embraces food justice where social safety net programs are recognized as part of the solution.

EmPower Place is a hands-on family learning center located at Missoula Food Bank & Community Center and is a collaborative effort by spectrUM, Missoula Food Bank and Community Center and Missoula Public Library. Dedicated to nourishing the bodies and minds of local children and families, it is one part community center, one part science museum, one part food hub, and one part library. 

Read our collaboration story

Rich with science exhibits, role models from the University of Montana, literacy and STEM programming, and books for children, young adults, and parents, EmPower Place offers enriching experiences free of charge to all Missoula families.

Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 10am – 6pm

Wednesday, Friday: 10am – 1pm

*after school meals are served after 3pm on Tue/Thurs

Child in Montana Grizzlies T-shirt plays with wooden cars in EmPower Place
Two young boys display their foam core creation with the EmPower Place ball wall gleaming behind them
Children gather at a table creating eternal jellyfish out of reused plastic water bottles as EmPower Place staff distributes food.
Children seated in bright green chairs, listen in as Miss Dacia reads a story book during Indigenous Storytime.

Interested in volunteering?

If you are interested in being in a fun, interactive space with children and their families, please email ashlee@missoulafoodbank.org (Family Engagement Manager). We are looking for volunteers that can be involved any day (Monday – Friday) from 9:30am – 6:30pm. No childcare experience required, just a desire to interact with kids and families in our community. Volunteering in the space requires a few hours of training beforehand to learn about safety measures, sanitation needs and protocols for interacting with children.

spectrUM EmPower Place Award Video

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Facts On
Food Insecurity

EmPower Place

In 2021, we welcomed visits from 5,104 local families, connecting neighbors to food access, community building, and amazing programming. We heard Indigenous Storytelling with Miss Dacia, painted with chemistry with SpectrUM, & told Tiny Tales with Missoula Public Library