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01.30.09 | Donation of refrigerated trucks will allow for the speedy transportation of food to charities across Montana
It was a crisp but sunny January day at the Missoula Rail Road Depot as the keys were handed to the proud owners of 7 new refrigerated trucks – a long awaited event following two years of hard work and perseverance.
The shiny, 12 foot Ford F350 refrigerated trucks were donated to food banks in the biggest cities across Montana to enable the speedy transport of food to shelters and food pantries. Much of the excess food that would otherwise be provided by restaurants and grocery stores is sent to the landfill because the food banks lack the refrigerated transportation capability. The new refrigerated trucks will allow food pantries to transport food without spoilage.
The trucks were purchased through a joint appropriation by Senator John Tester and Congressman Denny Rehberg, with an additional $75,000 donated by the Dennis and Phyllis Foundation. The Missoula Food Bank wrote the appropriation and lead the initiative, but will not be a recipient of a new truck.
Mike Halligan, Executive Director of the Foundation, explained that although a large, one-time donation of this type is somewhat atypical for the Foundation, when they were approached with the project, they jumped at the opportunity to help. Halligan explained that the mission of the Foundation is to provide financial support that will cause permanent, lasting change in communities, and they felt that this grant would make a real difference for needy families across Montana.
The delivery of the trucks comes at a time of great need. In 2008, food banks across the state saw an estimated 50 percent increase in the number of clients they served, and the economic downturn could increase that number through 2009.
Representatives of the Billings Family Service, Butte Emergency Food Bank, Flathead Food Bank, Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Great Falls Community Food Bank, the Helena Food Share and the Poverello Center were present to receive the trucks. Cynthia Lotty of the Missoula Food Bank handed the representatives the keys, while Halligan presented each a check in the amount of $1,500 to help cover the cost of fuel.
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7 new Ford F350 refrigerated trucks were donated to food banks across Montana. The trucks were purchased through a joint effort between Montana’s congressional delegation and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation.
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Food banks representatives across Montana were presented with the keys to the new trucks, in addition to a $1,500 check to help cover the cost of fuel. |
