Whitefish Community Foundation recently awarded a $150,000 multi-year Kids Fund Grant to Land to Hand to support their Kids and Family Pantry project in Columbia Falls.

Land to Hand is dedicated to building a strong community food system that fosters socially just ways of accessing food. In addition to growing and distributing food, Land to Hand ensures that seniors, school children and families with limited means have access to local and nutritious food.

The Kids and Family Pantry will be located in the old Glacier Gateway Elementary School building that is currently being renovated as a hub for several organizations that serve youth and families, including Land to Hand, Boys & Girls Club of Glacier Country, Ruis Wrestling Academy and Gateway to Early Learning daycare.

Whitefish Community Foundation’s Kids Fund Grant will help Land to Hand expand the Weekend Backpack Program for children, build a commercial kitchen for processing fresh food, and implement a “choice model” pantry where families can select items based on their specific dietary needs.

"As we witness an increasing number of children facing food insecurity over the weekends, we recognized the urgent need for a more comprehensive solution,” Land to Hand Executive Director Gretchen Boyer said. “This transformative grant will allow us to significantly reduce the hunger gap within Columbia Falls schools, ensuring that more children have consistent access to nutritious food."

The Kids Fund was created in 2019 to support programs in the areas of health, safety and education that mitigate challenges and prevent local youth from becoming homeless. To date, Whitefish Community Foundation has awarded over $600,000 in Kids Fund grants.

“The Kids Fund was created to support programs that protect and uplift vulnerable youth, and Land to Hand’s work will provide children and families in Columbia Falls with reliable access to healthy food, meeting essential needs and advancing long-term solutions,” Whitefish Community Foundation President/CEO Alan Davis said. “By locating the Kids and Family Pantry alongside other youth-serving organizations, Land to Hand is helping create a shared space where families can access multiple layers of support and opportunity.”

To learn more about the Kids Fund, including requirements for applying for a grant, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/the-kids-fund/.