Livingston Food Pantry Of Park County

THE MISSION OF THE LIVINGSTON FOOD PANTRY OF PARK COUNTY IS TO ENSURE THAT NO PERSON IN LIVINGSTON OR PARK COUNTY, MONTANA, EVER SUFFERS FROM FOOD INSUFFICIENCY. MUCH OF THE AREA SERVED IS LOW-INCOME AND RURAL; MORE THAN 16% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN LIVINGSTON LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, SO THE NEED IS GREAT. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2005, THE LIVINGSTON FOOD PANTRY HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE MANY CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND ELDERLY WHO STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER AND OTHER TRAUMATIC ISSUES RESULTING FROM LIVING IN POVERTY. INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO LEVERAGE THE PANTRY'S ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY'S FOOD SYSTEM, ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEMS. THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY AND HUNGER IN MEANINGFUL AND LONG-LASTING WAYS. THE PANTRY STRIVES TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION BY ENSURING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD; HELPING DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATIO

FOOD PANTRY THE LIVINGSTON FOOD PANTRY RESPONED QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO THE SUDDEN AND DEVASTATING IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. DURING THE SPRING OF 2020, THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLD VISITS JUMPED BY NEARLY 90% COMPARED TO THE SAME MONTHS IN THE PRIOR YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE HOUSEHOLDS SEEKING HELP - THE NUMBER OF YOUNG FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN INCREASED BY NEARLY 400%. IN RESPONSE TO THE CDC SAFETY PROTOCOL AND THE SHIFT IN HOUSEHOLD MAKE UP, THE LIVINGSTON FOOD PANTRY IMMEDIATELY CHANGED HOW IT DISTRIBUTES FOOD AND THE TYPES OF FOOD BEING DISTRIBUTE. FIRST, IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK, DISTRIBUTION WAS CHANGED FROM A SELF-SELECT GROCERY STORE MODEL TO CURBSIDE PICKUP THAT MINIMIZED CONTACT BETWEEN CLIENTS AND STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. SECOND, THE FOOD SELECTED AND PREPARED IN THE PANTRY'S COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY KITCHEN WAS REVIEWED BY A STAFF DIETICIAN AND CHANGES WERE MADE TO BETTER MEET THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN. TO MEET ITS GOAL OF PROVIDING THE MOST HEALTHFUL FOOD POSSIBLE TO PEOPLE IN NEED, THE LIVINGSTON FOOD PANTRY BAKES ITS OWN FRESH BREAD FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE PANTRY. THE NUTRITIOUS WHOLE WHEAT BREAD IS MADE USING MONTANA GROWN, ORGANIC FLOUR AND GRAIN. THE BREAD IS SO GOOD THAT IT BECAME POPULAR IN THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE STARTED TO VISITING THE PANTRY JUST TO BUY BREAD. IN RESPONSE TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE BREAD MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE, THE PANTRY EXPANDED ITS BAKING CAPACITY TO CREATE MORE ARTISAN BREADS AND PASTRIES AND OPENING A PUBLIC BAKERY NEARBY. THE BAKERY HAS PROVEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT IN 2021 IT WAS EXPANDED. THE BAKERY SUCCESS ILLUSTRATES HOW THE LIVINGSTON FOOD PANTRY WORKS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY AND HUNGER. FIRST, PEOPLE IN NEED TO COME TO THE PANTRY FOR HELP GET THE MOST NUTRITIOUS FRESH BREAD AVAILABLE. SECOND, THE REVENUES GENERATED HAS CREATED A NEW MARKET FOR MONTANA FARMERS. THIRD, IT SUPPORTS FIVE NEW JOBS PLUS AN APPRENTICESHIP. AND FINALLY, IT HELPS SUBSIDIZE THE COST OF THE BREAD MADE FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE PANTRY - AND BREAD THAT IS MADE AVAILABLE TO OTHER FOOD PANTRIES IN MONTANA AT NO COST. OUR GOAL FOR 2022 IS TO DISTRIBUTE 5,000 LOAVES OF BREAD TO OTHER PANTRIES IN MONTANA.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LOW INCOME ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO OFTEN FACE FOOD INSUFFICENCY DUE TO HIGH FOOD COSTS OR HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT PREVENT THEM FOR SHOPPING OR COOKING FOR THEMSELVES, THE LIVINGSTON FOOD PANTRY DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED THE PANTRY SUPPER CLUB. THIS PROGRAM, BASED ON RESEARCH DONE BY DIETETIC INTERNS FROM MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, PROVIDES FIVE DINNER MEALS TO EACH PARTICIPANT EACH WEEK. THE MEALS ARE PREPARED WITH LOCALLY SOURCED, ORGANIC INGREDIENTS, USING RECIPES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM SUFFER FROM CHRONIC ILLNESS SUCH AS DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. THE MEALS ARE READY TO BE HEATED IN A MICROWAVE AND ENJOYED - AT NO COST TO THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE PANTRY SUPPER CLUB HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN QUARANTINE OR SUFFERING FROM THE VIRUS. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS BEING DISCHARGED FROM LOCAL HOSPITALS OR ARE RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR CANCER - AGAIN, AT NO CHARGE. DUE TO SCHOOL CLOSURES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC, THE "HEALTHY WEEKEND- AND "SHIELDS VALLEY SCHOOL BREAKFAST" PROGRAMS ALSO SERVED TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN THAT WERE IMPACTED BY LOSS OF ACCESS TO MEALS AT SCHOOL. IN 2022, WE PLAN TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF OUR SUPPER CLUB MEALS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS, WHICH HAS INCREASED OVER 30% IN THE LAST YEAR, CREATING A WAITLIST. WE ALSO PLAN TO EXPAND OUR HEALTHY WEEKEND PROGRAM BY IMPLEMENTING IT IN MORE SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE FACILITIES. DUE TO PRESSURES CREATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, IT BECAME CLEAR TO THE LFRC STAFF THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE BEING SERVED WERE STRUGGLING WITH MORE ISSUES THAN JUST FOOD INSUFFICIENCY. IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECT IMPACTS OF COVID, THE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT NEEDED SOCIAL SERVICES BEFORE BEGAN SEEKING HELP AND SUPPORT, MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME. LFRC'S CLIENT BASE IS AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE AND IMAPCTED POPULATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS THE SAME POPULATION THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD COUNSELING AND/OR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY SKYROCKETING AND THE OPTIONS FOR HELP ALREADY STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED, LFRC DECIDED TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES. IN 2021, WITH THE HELP OF A FEW EMERGENCY GRANTS, THE LFRC WAS ABLE TO START A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM, FREE OF CHARGE, TO ANY CLIENT WHO WISHES TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND MEETING ROOM FACILITIES THE BUILDING INCLUDES A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND A MEETING ROOM THAT CAN SEAT APPROXIMATELY 60 PERSONS. THE MEETING ROOM IS RENTED AT A NOMINAL COST TO OTHER LOCAL AND STATE NONPROFITS, AS WELL AS OTHER CUSTOMERS. THESE MEETINGS OFTEN INCLUDE RELATED CATERING, PREPARED BY STAFF IN THE KITCHEN. STAFF ALSO PROCESS FOODS TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE FOOD PANTRY, INCLUDING BAKED GOODS, PACKAGED FRESH VEGETABLES AND MEATS, SOUPS, STEWS, AND OTHER PREPARED MEALS FOR USE IN THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. ANOTHER USE OF THE KITCHEN IS IN PROCESSING BULK ORDERS FOR HOME-BASED BUSINESSES THAT REQUIRE THE CERTIFICATION OF A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN. THE KITCHEN ALSO ADDRESSES ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, IN THAT THE LOCAL LABOR MARKET IS HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON FOOD SERVICE - COOKS AND SERVERS - AND TRAINING CLASSES ARE HELD TO MUTUALLY BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SKILLS AND EMPLOYERS SEEKING TRAINED AND QUALIFIED HELP. THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED BOTH CATERING AND RENTAL OF THE KITCHEN AND MEETING ROOM IN 2020 AND 2021, AS SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES REQUIRED CLOSURE OF THE FACILITIES FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR. IN 2022, THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND COMMUNITY ROOM WILL BE RE-OPENED IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE MORE REVENUE FOR PROGRAMMING. IN TURN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL BE DRIVEN BY PROVIDING A SPACE FOR ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO START A FOOD BUSINESS. THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN WILL INCREASE OUR PURCHASING AND PROCESSING OF LOCAL FOODS. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 50% OF OUR TOTAL PURCHASES TO BE LOCAL FOOD BY 2025.