The Need for Feed

Published: 2020
By Abbie Phillip

SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education) works in partnership with local coalitions, organizations, and institutions to improve the policies, systems, and environments that support better nutritional outcomes of communities. By enhancing access to healthy foods where at-risk people live, work, play, shop, and learn, SNAP-Ed helps promote better community health outcomes and decreases food insecurity. SNAP-Ed is helping communities in Southwest Montana increase food access to families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 13 weeks, nearly 4,000, 25-pound, individual boxes of fruits, vegetables, dairy and proteins, totaling over 80,000 pounds of fresh food were distributed to local residents, organizations, and smaller area communities. The fresh food is provided through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program. Through community partnerships with local food banks and nonprofits, SNAP-Ed is assisting with promotion and the development of new community-based systems to distribute weekly boxes of fresh food to early childhood centers, senior congregate meal sites, and residents experiencing food insecurity or limited access to fresh food as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.