Can the Cats
Join Us!
Can the Cats
Can the Cats Canned Food Drive is Coming Up!
- November 7th - November 21st, 2026 - Goal: 600,000 lbs/$'s
Each year, the University of Montana community and the community surrounding Montana State University compete to see who can raise the most food and funds for their local food bank. Last year, Missoula County brought home the gold! Across the state we raised over 2 million pounds and dollars to nourish our neighbors across the state!
Now in its 27th year, help us bring home the gold again!
There is more than one way to Can a Cat - including donating food and funds (1 lb = $1), hosting a food drive, attending community events, or just spreading the word! Check out these options below and see which one works best for you!
We love this statewide drive because it brings in such an abundance of food to feed both communities, while also providing an increased variety of items and brands to stock on our shelves which we are unable to regularly provide otherwise.
Special thanks to Title sponsors First Interstate Bank, University of Montana, Missoula Paddleheads, and YOU for your generous support! As the primary resource for emergency food services in Missoula County, Missoula Food Bank & Community Center serves one in five people in Missoula County – nearly 25,000 individuals and 7,500 households. Thank you and go Griz!
In 2025, the Missoula community raised a grand total of 1,091,755 lbs/$s in food & funds for our local Food Bank! Help us nourish our friends & neighbors experiencing food insecurity in our community this year and help us CAN the MSU Bobcats off the field!
ways you can help
Join the Team
Every pound counts towards our goal- so bring the heavy stuff! Drop off donations at Missoula Food Bank & Community Center’s back alley donations door at 1720 Wyoming St. or any Can the Cats donation drop spot listed below.
$1 = 1 lb and every donation counts during this two-week drive. Our food bank buying power goes even further than it does at the grocery store. Donate online, in person, or by mail and let us do the purchasing! Checks can be made out to Missoula Food Bank & Community Center (or Missoula Food Bank) and mailed or delivered to us at 1720 Wyoming St, Missoula, MT 59801. Cash donations also accepted!
Rally your coworkers, teammates, & friends to collect food & funds all drive long! Join over 50 community and on-campus organizations in nourishing community! Register your drive so we can keep you stocked with bins & grins!
Rally your businesses, clubs, or groups to outraise your peers in an easy online fundraising campaign! You'll get your own individual fundraising page/link that you can share out to your coworkers, friends, and network to have them help raise funds!
This option makes it easy to keep track of your team's total, as well as individual totals for a friendly in-house competition. You can also see how your fundraising compares to other like groups in the community for a friendly industry competition! Every dollar counts!
More information to come!
November 7th - 22nd, 2026
- Kick-Off at Washington Grizzly Stadium: November 7th
- Drives running all over town starting Nov 7th | Pick your favorite place to donate in the community or bring your donations directly to the food bank!
- Community Events throughout the drive: local brewery pint nights, community coffee donation days, sporting events, and more! Check our social media for more information.
- University of Montana Events: For more information on University of Montana Can the Cat events, please check out the UM Food Pantry page here.
- Weigh-In Day: November 20th | Community Drives bring in their food donations to be weighed and stored ahead of the big game!
- Final day to donate: November 21st | Finish the drive strong by bringing donations to the food bank before the end of the first quarter of Brawl of the Wild!
Missoula Food Bank & Community Center Donation Drop Off Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8am – 7pm
- Wednesday, Friday: 8am – 1pm
- Please drop off donations at our back-alley donation door.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Touchdown Title Sponsors
CAN-tastic Champion Sponsors
Souper Bowl Kicker Sponsors
Quarterback Qualifier Sponsors
Donate Food
Community Drop Spots for Food
Download Materials
Marketing Toolkit
Questions?
Looking to get involved? Contact Missoula Food Bank & Community Center at 406.541.0765 or email us below.
Thank you for helping us nourish our community!
Facts On
Food Insecurity
1 in 5
We currently serve 1 in 5 people in Missoula County – nearly 25,000 individuals and 7,500 households – through our choice-model store, rural satellite pantries and special programs serving children and seniors.
