The number of Montanans falling on hard times continues to grow, with new numbers showing that 139,000 state residents lived in poverty last year, and Montana now ranked 13^th of the highest incidents of poverty in the nation.

 

We spoke with the Director of Public Policy at the Montana Food Bank to learn more about the increase in poverty, and what can be done to combat it.

 

Poverty is hitting Montana hard, and children are baring the brunt of it as there are currently 45,000 kids in the state living in poverty.

 

While there are special food programs to help these children, with the economy the way it is, officials say more needs to be done.

 

The Montana Food Bank, which supplies 200 emergency food agencies throughout the state and since the recession took hold, the bank has seen more and more people needing food.

 

"The increase of poverty and the high numbers of poverty in Montana are a clear indication that we need strong public food programs" explained Director of Public Policy Kate Bradford. "The Emergency Food System has been working as hard as we can to meet that need, and it's a struggle. We keep seeing it go up and up and, to have their support of the Federal Nutrition Programs would really benefit those in poverty in the state."

Bradford added that the U.S. Congress is about to reauthorize the Child Nutrition program, which is done every five years. She also hopes that federal lawmakers will add more funding to the program.