An Employee Challenge to Help Strengthen Charitable Food Distribution Programs

With the demand for emergency food increasing at food pantries and feeding sites throughout the country, First Interstate Foundation and the Employees and Directors of First Interstate Bank in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming set out to help strengthen organizations that provide food to those in need with the company-wide program neighborsfeedingneighbors.

Through the neighborsfeedingneighbors program, the Foundation offered a double match of funds directed to the tables of our neighbors affected by food insecurity in third quarter 2009. Each Employee and Director who donated to a non-profit that had an established food program during July, August and September were eligible to receive a double match for their dollars and time.

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Challenges faced by hungry people are multiple and complex. For many, the challenges are severe throughout the year. For others, winter months, school vacations and the end of the month are very difficult. These challenges tend to amplify the physical, social and emotional health of families.

Poverty and hunger are not choices that people willingly make. Solutions lie in raising wages, helping people living on a fixed income, increasing participation in public food programs, increasing access to affordable, locally grown food and advocating for policies that bring sustainable, long term solutions to hunger and food insecurity.

Food Insecurity

the inability to access food in a consistent and socially acceptable manner to meet the family's nutritional needs. Food insecurity is characterized by not having the financial means to buy or grow food, the need for emergency food assistance and adults skipping meals. Food insecurity exists when the availability of nutritionally adequate food or the ability to access it on a consistent basis is uncertain or limited.

Hunger

the condition where both adults and children cannot access food consistently and have to reduce food intake, eat poor diets and often go without any food. Hunger is also defined as the uneasy or painful sensation when it is caused by lack of food.

Mission Statement

The Mission of First Interstate Foundation is to assist the First Interstate Bank family in being the premier corporate citizen in the communities we serve. The Foundation achieves this by carrying out First Interstate’s Commitment to Community. We provide resources and leadership to civic and community projects, education, arts and culture, health and human services and community development efforts.