top of page
Gymnast Hugging Knees


Systems Change to End Childhood Hunger in Montana

Childhood hunger in Montana is a solvable problem. With your help, we can revamp Montana's food systems to ensure every child has access to nutrient-dense food for better learning, health, and wellbeing.  

1 in 6

The number of kids who eat in a school-meal facility partially supported by MT-PECH*

*MT-PECH 2023 Granting Data

34K

The number of additional MT kids qualifying for free & reduced meal programs in 2023*

*MT Office of Public Instruction

92K+

MT kids who still need help with nutrition security*

*2022 ERS data, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

MOST

MT communities lack needed infrastructure for supporting healthy, nutrient-dense diets for the children and families who live there.

​

Nutrient-dense diets are diets that supply needed vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber in quantities capable of lowering the risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.*

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity 

Information that Illuminates 

Food Security

v

Nutrition Security

What's the Difference?

According to the FAO, Food Security has 4 pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability.

 

Nutrition Security expands on the FAO definition. According to USDA, Nutrition Security means consistent access, availability, and affordability of culturally meaningful foods and beverages that promote well-being, prevent disease, and -if needed - treat disease, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities, lower income, and rural and remote populations, including Tribal communities. Like USDA, MT-PECH recognizes that structural inequities and lack of rural infrastructure make it hard for Montanans of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to access nutrient-dense foods, eat healthy, and be active. So, we look through an equity lens when viewing food-system challenges facing Montana. We work directly with lived experts, community food and infrastructure providers, and community members themselves to meet everyone's needs one community at a time, one Montanan to another. 

​

About Our Organization

The Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger is a public non-profit that grew out of a statewide coalition dedicated to changing our food system to end childhood hunger and improve access to nutrient-dense foods in Montana. We provide grants to schools, community organizations, and other organizations working throughout the food system to improve and increase nutrition security for Montana's children and their families.

Grapes

Our 4 Buckets of Work

While we grant to many types of projects impacting Montana's food system, we focus on 4 bucket lists for ending childhood hunger in our own on-the-ground work. 

Kids Playing Tug of War

How You Can Help

Changing food systems to provide better nutrition security for Montana's children and families is a massive undertaking. Your support through funding, advocacy, and action makes a difference. Click here to learn more about how you can take action in your community or organization, donate, or advocate for change. 

Coming Soon!
News & Research  About Nutrition Security

You'll be able to stay up-to-date on relevant news and research about Nutrition Security and its impacts on children and community health.

Meet The Team

Our team is made up of dedicated individuals who are passionate about changing Montana's food systems to improve nutrition security and end childhood hunger in Montana. Click Meet Us to meet the team.

Friends Forever
bottom of page