EmPower Pack

We envision a community where every child is nourished and has an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.

Packets of oatmeal, crackers, bars, and more wait to be packed into weekend EmPower packs by dozens of volunteers

Kids EmPower Pack

Kids EmPower Pack is Missoula Food Bank & Community Center’s weekend nutrition program helping students to stay healthy & nourished when school is not in session.

Each Friday, a bag of food is provided to children who experience chronic hunger over the weekends. This vital nutrition program reaches students in 40 different meal sites in the Missoula area, Lolo, Bonner, Frenchtown, Clinton, Seeley, and Alberton, ranging from preschool through high school.

Kids in the program are identified by school officials who recognize behaviors & circumstances of children living with food insecurity at home. Some of those behaviors include hoarding food from lunch on Fridays, nervousness or anxiety for the weekends, and disruptive, unfocused behavior on Monday mornings.

Each EmPower Pack contains 2 entrees, 2 breakfasts, hearty snacks, fresh fruits, and milk. We vary our menus and customize the packs for different ages' needs. Each costs $6.00 and every dollar donated to this program supports healthy, nutritious food for kids enrolled in this program.

Make A Donation

Family Resource Centers manage enrollment for weekend food. If this program could benefit your family, we encourage you to contact your school Family Resource Center (FRC) or FIT Coordinator.

To learn more about this program, contact Ashley Clark, Child Nutrition & Program Coordinator 406.541.0785

Email Ashley

This weekend meal program is currently in the following schools:

  • Alberton School District
  • Big Sky High School
  • Bonner School District
  • Chief Charlo Elementary
  • Clinton School District
  • CS Porter Middle School
  • DeSmet School District
  • Early Head Start Programs
  • EmPower Place
  • Franklin Elementary
  • Frenchtown School District
  • Hawthorne Elementary
  • Head Start Whittier
  • Hellgate High School
  • Hellgate School District
  • Jeannette Rankin Elementary
  • Jefferson Preschool
  • Kids Eat Free Food Bus
  • Lewis & Clark Elementary
  • Lolo School
  • Lowell Elementary
  • Meadow Hill Middle School
  • MS Learning Lab
  • Paxson Elementary
  • Rattlesnake Elementary
  • Russell Elementary
  • Seeley High School
  • Sentinel High School
  • St. Joseph's School
  • Target Range
  • UM Preschool
  • Washington Middle School
  • Willard Alternative School

These sites distribute EmPower Packs when school is not in session:

  • Council Grove Apartments
  • EmPower Place
  • Our Food Bus Stops (Linda Vista Apartments, 55th St, University Village Community Center, Creekside Apartments, Travois Village Park, and Futura Mobile Home Park)

Facts On
Food Insecurity

EmPower Packs

This past school year, 41,524 EmPower Packs went home with students of all ages to ensure they had access to meals while school was out of session.