FARM HANDS NOURISH THE FLATHEAD
PO BOX 4404, WHITEFISH, MT 59937 www.nourishtheflathead.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEM THAT FOSTERS SOCIALLY JUST WAYS OF ACCESSING FOOD

BLACKFEET NOURISH AND BACKPACK PROGRAM:THE BLACKFEET NOURISH PROJECT (BNP), A PROGRAM OF FARMHANDS ~ NOURISH THE FLATHEAD, WAS STARTED IN 2011. THE BNP WORKS TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY WITHIN THE BLACKFEET NATION BY COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH BLACKFEET COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY A DEDICATED GROUP OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN AND AROUND THE FLATHEAD VALLEY.THE ROLE OF BNP IS TO PROCURE AND DELIVER FOOD TO ITS BLACKFEET PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. FOOD IS PURCHASED FROM LOCAL PRODUCERS AND BUSINESSES. ADDITIONALLY, FOOD DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FOOD BANKS IN THE FLATHEAD VALLEY IS COLLECTED FOR DELIVERY TO BROWNING EVERY OTHER FRIDAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THESE DELIVERIES STRATEGICALLY SUPPORT TWO KEY FOOD SECURITY PROJECTS FOR THE BLACKFEET NATION:- TO SUPPORT THE MEDICINE BEAR SHELTER WHICH SERVES DAILY MEALS TO THE HOMELESS POPULATIONS IN BROWNING AND PROVIDES FOOD BOXES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED. THE FOOD PRODUCTS DELIVERED TO THE SHELTER CONSIST OF NUTRITIOUS STAPLES INCLUDING FRUIT, VEGETABLES, DAIRY, EGGS, AND BREAD. WE ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH FAST BLACKFEET (FOOD ACCESS SUSTAINABILITY TEAM), A BLACKFEET COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT, ESTABLISHING A FOOD RESOURCE CENTER AT THE MEDICINE BEAR SHELTER. THIS CENTER WILL OPERATE A FOOD PANTRY AND OPERATE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN FOR NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION. THE EMERGENCY FUNDS RAISED IN 2018 WERE GRANTED TO FAST BLACKFEET THROUGH FARMHANDS - NOURISH THE FLATHEAD TO BEGIN WORKING ON THIS PERMANENT PANTRY.-THE SECOND AREA OF FOCUS IS TO SUPPORT THE BROWNING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAM AND SCHOOL PANTRIES IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FOOD PANTRIES. THE BACKPACK PROGRAM PROVIDES WEEKEND MEALS AND SNACKS TO OVER 300 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. BLACKFEET NOURISH PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FRUITS, SNACK FOODS, AND EASY TO PREPARE MEALS FOR STUDENTS.-ADDITIONALLY, DURING THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND EASTER, BLACKFEET NOURISH PROVIDES FOOD THAT IS USED TO CREATE HOLIDAY BASKETS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED.A 2016 REPORT CONDUCTED BY FAST BLACKFEET FOUND THAT OVER 67% OF THE POPULATION ON THE BLACKFEET RESERVATION EXPERIENCES SOME DEGREE OF FOOD INSECURITY. THE WORK OF THE BLACKFEET NOURISH PROJECT HAS A DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON FOOD INSECURITY FOR BLACKFEET COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILIES, AND CHILDREN.

FOOD FOR ALL:FARM HANDS' FOOD FOR ALL PROGRAMS INCLUDE DOUBLE SNAP DOLLARS, SENIOR COUPONS AND FOOD RX. THESE PROGRAMS INCENTIVIZE LOW INCOME SENIORS, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM AND INCREASE CONSUMPTION OF HEALTHY, LOCAL WHEN POSSIBLE FOOD. THE DOUBLE SNAP DOLLAR PROGRAM INCENTIVIZES LOW INCOME/SNAP CONSUMERS TO SHOP AT FARMERS' MARKETS TO PURCHASE HEALTHY LOCAL, FOOD WITH A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCH. CURRENTLY WE OFFER THIS PROGRAM AT THE FARMERS MARKETS IN WHITEFISH, COLUMBIA FALLS AND KALISPELL. WE ARE A REGIONAL LEAD FOR THE DOUBLE SNAP DOLLAR NETWORK IN MONTANA AND WORK WITH REGIONAL MARKETS TO ADMINISTER THIS STATEWIDE PROGRAM. RAISED FUNDS WILL GO TOWARDS FRUITS AND VEGETABLE INCENTIVE FUNDS TO MATCH AT ALL THREE FARMERS' MARKETS. OUR SENIOR COUPON PROGRAM TARGETS LOW INCOME SENIORS AND PROVIDES COUPON BOOKLETS TO USE AT FARMERS' MARKETS. THIS PROGRAM HAS FEDERAL SUPPORT THAT IS DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN, SO WE CREATED OUR OWN PROGRAM TO FIT THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. WE CURRENTLY GIVE OUT 150 BOOKLETS WORTH $30 EACH FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS TO ACCESS HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD. THE FOOD RX PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NORTH VALLEY PROFESSIONAL CENTER AND FHN TO PROVIDE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRESCRIPTIONS TO FAMILIES THAT QUALIFY AS FOOD INSECURE. PATIENTS ARE REFERRED BY CLINIC PRACTITIONERS AND RECEIVE AN ORIENTATION PACKET. AFTER THE PATIENT CHOOSES THEIR MARKET OF CHOICE, THEY BRING THEIR PRESCRIPTION TO THE FARMHANDS - NOURISH THE FLATHEAD FOOD ACCESS BOOTH AND WE GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE WEEKLY PROCESS OF PURCHASING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH THEIR PRESCRIPTION. PATIENT RECEIVE $7 A WEEK PER FAMILY MEMBER, ALL SPENT ON LOCAL, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

FARM EDUCATION PROGRAMS:FREE THE SEEDS, A PROGRAM OF FARM HANDS - NOURISH THE FLATHEAD, IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH REAL SEEDS, REAL FOOD AND REAL SKILLS. EVERY ASPECT OF THIS YEAR'S FAIR BRINGS ATTENTION TO THE VALUE OF A ROBUST COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD SYSTEM. THE EVENT WILL OFFER MORE THAN 20 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS BY LOCAL EXPERTS, AT LEAST 30 BOOTHS WITH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESSING, GROWING AND PROCESSING FOOD LOCALLY, A SEED EXCHANGE AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOCUSED THE STATE OF OUR VALLEY'S FOOD SYSTEM AND WAYS TO WE CAN MAKE IT STRONGER TOGETHER. ALL WORKSHOPS ARE OPI-ACCREDITED FOR K-12 TEACHERS, AND KIDS 8 AND OLDER CAN ATTEND KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. FOOD AND BEVERAGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE FAIR.THE FAIR'S BOOTHS WILL PROVIDE STILL MORE RESOURCES, INFORMATION AND SKILL-SHARING TIPS. MYRIAD LOCAL GROWERS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO MEET THEIR FARMER, COMMUNITY GARDENS WILL OFFER RESOURCES FOR STARTING A GARDEN, LOCAL PRODUCERS WILL SHARE HOW THEY MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS AND LOCAL DISTRIBUTORS WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON FOOD ACCESS.

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