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 it’s recognition of individuals and organizations from Montana who have worked to reduce hunger and improve the nutritional status of Montanans. First Lady Nancy Schweitzer will present the awards during a ceremony at 1.00 pm on April 7, 2010 in the Capitol Rotunda in Helena.   Awards will be 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 21st 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 will be 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.