MONTANA FOOD BANK NETWORK INC

Policy advocacy and outreach program - in addition to providing emergency food, mfbn works to end hunger through public policy solutions at the local, state, and federal levels. Mfbn works with legislators, government officials and the hunger-relief community to ensure that ending hunger is a priority. Mfbn strives to ensure that public food programs are maximized to support montanans. By collecting information from public and private montana feeding programs and through a biennial client hunger survey, mfbn then educates the public and policy makers about hunger and food insecurity in montana. Data collected from the hunger survey is used to target mfbn's outreach activities for snap (supplemental nutrition assistance program), summer food program and other public food programs. With the addition of a benefit access coordinator, mfbn is also able to provide clients with one-on-one assistance to navigate the complex public benefits process. The public policy program goal is to encourage long term solutions to hunger in montana with both public and private partnerships.