Our Programs

The LFRC Food Pantry is designed to be an equity forward compassionate shopping experience, empowering clients to choose from a variety of scratch-made frozen and nutritious ready to eat foods, and minimally processed shelf stable food, the procurement of which is guided by our local food purchasing and nutrition policies. Currently, our food pantry is providing nutritional support to over 500 unique households each month.

Mobile Food Pantries service those living in the most rural areas of our county. Once a month, LFRC travels to the towns of Emigrant, Wilsall and Clyde Park with a selection of non-perishable food, fresh produce, frozen meats, Community Kitchen scratch-made items, Kamut for Community bread and dairy products. This program provides nutritional support to individuals and families who cannot make it into the food pantry because of a lack of transportation, the cost of gas or are not afforded the time to reach us during operational hours.

The Backpack Buddies program targets elementary school children who depend on free and reduced-priced meals during the school week, but frequently face food insufficiency at home during weekends and holidays. LFRC volunteers pack bags of supplemental food that can be discreetly placed in students' backpacks on the last day of each school week. In collaboration with school administrators and teachers, we have identified and are providing 300 “Backpack Buddy” bags each week throughout Park County.

The satellite LFRC food pantries within Sleeping Giant Middle School and Park High School aim to reduce/eliminate hunger faced by students during the school day and on weekends and evenings when there is not adequate access to food in their homes. In-school food pantries, rather than weekend food Backpack programs, honor older students’ autonomy by allowing them to choose food they will eat. These pantries offer minimally processed scratch-made soups, peanut butter, jam and hummus from our Community Kitchen and preservative free bread from our Community Bakery. Students also have access to fresh fruit, breakfast items, pantry staples, hygiene products and school supplies.

Our Community Kitchen develops and provides healthful food products for distribution in our Food Pantry. The soups, stews, sauces and other items are made using many locally sourced, organic ingredients, and are prepared with no additives except required seasoning. Not only do these items provide a healthy alternative to some of the most highly processed foods offered in a traditional food pantry, they allow families experiencing time poverty access to quick and nutritious meals.

The LFRC Pantry Supper Club provides nutritious dinners, five nights per week, to low/fixed income members of our community that can not prepare adequate meals for themselves. The meals are prepared in the Center’s Community Kitchen, using as many fresh, organic, Montana sourced ingredients as possible. They are then packed, frozen and delivered each week to participating community members. The program is currently serving 65 individuals each week.

In collaboration with DPHHS of Montana, the Commodities program provides basic food items to people over 60 whose household income is below 130% of the federal poverty level. This service provides supplemental food support to an average of 95 seniors every month, most of whom live on very low fixed incomes and frequently deal with food insecurity.

In collaboration with Farm to School of Park County and the Livingston School District, the Summer Lunch program provides nutritious lunch to all Livingston school-age children in need. Many of the children served receive free and reduced meals during the school year but face food insufficiency during the summer when the school meals are not available. The service is provided Monday through Friday, June through August, at multiple sites throughout Livingston. The LFRC manages Sacajawea Park, Gateway Museum and Green Acres Park, serving an average of 350 meals per week.

The LFRC Kitchen and Community Bakery provide all the ingredients needed to cook a delicious Thanksgiving meal, at home, to over 400 low income households in Park County. The holidays are a time of additional stress for food insecure families, this program allows them the opportunity to share a traditional meal with their loved ones, strengthen bonds and feel supported during this season of gratitude and giving. Each household receives a turkey, local green beans processed by LFRC volunteers, scratch made gravy, chicken stock and cranberry sauce made in our Community Kitchen, dinner rolls provided by the Community Bakery and all the fixins’ needed to make the meal complete.

People living in poverty are dealing with many debilitating issues. Food insufficiency is just one of the many challenges that they face every day. The LFRC employs a licensed counselor to provide the support and therapy that is required to enable people to live better lives and to lift themselves out of poverty. The service is available to all LFRC Food Pantry clients at no cost. Assistance is also provided for SNAP and other support programs such as, LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program).