Food bank receives donation dedicated toward building food security
A crew from First Interstate Bank in Whitefish presents a check to North Valley Food Bank as part of the bank’s Believe in Local campaign. (Courtesy photo)
North Valley Food Bank recently received a $25,000 gift from First Interstate Bank and the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation as part of their second-annual Believe in Local grant campaign. These funds will be deployed to build food security and create well-nourished, connected communities across northwest Montana. The gift will help North Valley Food Bank to purchase a new refrigerated truck.
“We are incredibly appreciative of First Interstate’s generosity and support,” said Sophie Albert, North Valley Food Bank executive director. “This donation ensures an abundant access to fresh food for our customers in Flathead County and for our mobile pantry sides and pantry delivery program partners across Lincoln and Glacier County. We’re thankful to have dedicated partners like First Interstate working with us to support and strengthen our community.”
First Interstate Bank launched the Believe in Local campaign in 2022 to celebrate the bank’s longstanding commitment to the communities it serves. Each year, 40 nonprofit organizations across the bank’s 14-state footprint receive a $25,000 gift in support of their mission. North Valley Food Bank was nominated by local First Interstate employees and selected from a pool of over 500 submissions thanks to its alignment with the bank’s philanthropic goals.
“Giving back to the places we call home is central to who we are as a community bank,” said Eric Schmidt, First Interstate Bank’s Whitefish bank president. “Our Believe in Local grant campaign captures our core values in action and is the ideal way to celebrate the nonprofit organizations that deliver the greatest positive impact. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to further North Valley Food Bank in its work to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
In addition to campaigns like Believe in Local, First Interstate makes annual donations and grants of 2% of its pre-tax earnings to local communities. These funds aid in the improvement of workforce development, boost early childhood education, mitigate poverty and support nonprofit organizations.
For more information on First Interstate Bank’s philanthropic efforts, please visit www.firstinterstatebank.com/believeinlocal. For more information about North Valley Food Bank visit www.northvalleyfoodbank.org/.