Montanans Receiving Recognition for Reducing Hunger, Improving Nutrition

Following up on the work of the Montana State Advisory Council on Food and Nutrition, the Food Security Council would like to continue to recognize public and private actions and individuals who significantly contribute to the reduction of hunger and/or the improvement of nutritional status in Montana.

Awards for 2011

Lt. Governor John Bohlinger presented the awards during a ceremony at Noon on April 13, 2011 in the Capitol Rotunda in Helena.

Awards were given to the following individuals:

Sofia Janik from Office of Public Instruction in Helena for her support for 21st Century Community Learning Center Afterschool Program.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau from Helena for demonstrating a strong commitment to nutrition and for the many steps she has taken to improve our State’s support for ensuring children have consistent and sustainable access to nutritious food.
Kristie Ledbetter and the founding members of the Yaak Food Cupboard in Troy for forming the food pantry in their remote valley and for volunteering for the past 10 years to provide emergency food for 72-84 households in their community. Clients travel 55 miles one way to receive fresh produce and other food items.
Adam Galvin, Principal of Amsterdam Elementary School, a small rural school with very high student poverty rate in Manhattan for his work with the community to start a School Breakfast Program. Mr. Galvin works daily with the program, which now serves 19% of the student population.
Tom Fetherston and Don and Judy Skidmore with the East Helena United Methodist Church for their bravery and tenacity in starting and manning a small food pantry within their church to support the needs of the local community.
Rep. Diane Sands of Missoula for her continual work in the Legislature to advocate for children and families’ nutrition, health and overall well-being – specifically her work to prevent childhood overweight and obesity and to promote better health through stronger public health policies in our State.
Michael McCormack, Executive Director of the Livingston Food Pantry, for his dedicated service to the Livingston community through management of the food pantry and for developing a Summer lunch program, a Backpack Program, the Livingston Community Garden and the “Harvest Dinner” event.
Mike Halligan, Executive Director of The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in Missoula for his work for over nine years to identify areas where children and families are dealing with multiple hardships including poverty, education, health, and social needs that impact the future of children in Montana and for his guidance, direction and funding support for the Food Security Council and the Montana Food Bank Network and many of its Partner Agencies statewide.
Rep. Chuck Hunter, Helena, for his dedication to providing a healthy environment for Montana’s children by sponsoring the Healthy Montana Kids Act of 2009 and House Joint Resolution 8 in this current Session – the Interim Study Resolution to end Childhood Hunger. The Resolution has created a heightened awareness among legislators about the child hunger in the state.

Awards for 2010

First Lady Nancy Schweitzer presented the awards during a ceremony at 1.00 pm on April 7, 2010 in the Capitol Rotunda in Helena.The Food Security Council of the Montana Food Bank Network, which works to improve long term food security and reduce hunger in Montana, is pleased to announce its recognition of individuals and organizations from Montana who have worked to reduce hunger and improve the nutritional status of Montanans.

Awards were given to the following individuals:

Stan and Mary Rathman of Choteau/Teton County Food Pantry, for 20 years of dedicated service to hungry people in their community.

Valerie Addis of Missoula County Public Schools, for her dedicated effort in bringing the Back Pack program to Missoula schools and for her work in improving children’s health through the breakfast program in schools.

Ann Waickman of Helena Food Share, for her goal of a hunger-free Helena and her creative idea to grow a productive garden on the Helena Food Share grounds for producing fresh vegetables throughout the summer.

Dayle Hayes, Barbara Sample and Virginia Mermel of Billings, for their excellent work and commitment to increasing awareness to key people in their community on childhood hunger and creating community solutions to end Child Hunger in Yellowstone County.

Sandi Smith of the Montana Office of Public Instruction in Helena, for her role in promoting the summer food service program to program managers of the 21^st Century After School Programs.

Jim and Joanne Cortese of the Butte Emergency Food Bank, for their years of dedicated service to the Butte Community as volunteer co-directors of the Butte Food Bank.

Mike Strang of Beaverhead County – Lima and Dillon -- for promotion of monthly commodity food boxes for 60 seniors in Beaverhead county, promotion of the SNAP (food stamp program) and support of the Montana Food Bank Network’s advocacy work in these communities.

Virginia Mermel of Billings, Billings Action for Healthy Kids, for her dedication to improving access to healthy food for children through multiple programs, including the Back Pack program and the Billings School Health Advisory Committee.

The following organization was recognized:

Ravalli County Council on Aging, Ravalli County, Hamilton, for their dedication and efforts to bring better nutrition through the senior programs in Ravalli County.

Special Food Security Council Awards:

Representative Mary Caferro, Helena, for her untiring efforts to find funding for emergency food for Montana agencies in the 2009 Legislative session, which has resulted in increased access to healthy food for many Montanans.

Senator Ryan Zinke, Whitefish, for moving the effort to fund emergency food through the Senate in the 2009 Legislative session, which has increased food access and better nutrition for many Montanans.