Myth vs. Realtity

Myth: You have to be unemployed to be eligible for food bank services.
Reality: Gallatin Valley residents in need of food are eligible for food bank services; an average of 40-50% of households requesting assistance from the food bank have at least one household member employed.

Myth: You have to be eligible for food stamps in order to be eligible for food bank services.
Reality: Gallatin Valley residents in need of food are eligible for food bank services.

Myth: The Food Bank has income restrictions.
Reality: The Food Bank operates two programs that have income restrictions: the Senior Grocery Program and the Summer Lunch Program, the main Emergency Food Box Program has no income restrictions; however completed paperwork regarding household income, members, and place of residence is required.

Myth: You have to be homeless to qualify for food bank services.
Reality: Less than 1% of persons requesting assistance from the food bank are homeless/transient.

Myth: You can only get food from the Food Bank once per month.
Reality: The 30 day rule is in existence as a guideline, all requests for food assistance are evaluated on a case by case basis and exceptions are made regularly. Additionally, food items available in the bread/produce room can be accessed as often as needed.

Myth: Seniors participating in the senior grocery program are not eligible for a food box.
Reality: Seniors participating in the senior grocery program are also eligible for a food box.

Myth: The Food Bank only provides canned goods/commodities.
Reality: The Food Bank provides perishable and non-perishable foods including: dairy products, vegetables, fruits, baked goods, canned goods, dried goods, frozen meats.

Myth: People abuse services such as the food bank.
Reality: 5.86% of Gallatin County residents utilized food bank services during 2006, the number of persons living in poverty in Gallatin County (2005) is estimated at 8,603 (11%)[1]. 70% of households requesting assistance from the Food Bank utilized the emergency food services less than 3 times within a one year period.

Myth: The Food Bank only helps the chronically poor.
Reality: Food Bank clients during 2006 consisted of two parent households, single parent households, seniors living alone, disabled persons, extended family households, MSU Students and many others. Therefore, our clients attend your schools, work with you, they are somebody’s grandparents and your neighbors.

Myth: The Food Bank is only open between 1 – 4pm Monday – Friday.
Reality: The Food Bank’s offices are open 8am – 5pm Monday – Friday for business and donations. Client services are offered between 1 – 4 pm Monday – Friday and on Tuesdays from 5 – 7pm. Families/individuals that cannot access services between these hours are encouraged to contact the food bank to make other arrangements.

Myth: The Gallatin Valley Food Bank is part of the Montana Food Bank Network.
Reality: The Gallatin Valley Food Bank is an umbrella program of the local HRDC. The Gallatin Valley Food Bank and the Montana Food Bank Network are NOT the same, they are both independent non-profit organizations.

Myth: The Gallatin Valley Food Bank receives funding/foods from the government.
Reality: The Food Bank’s funding sources are as follows: 64.6% community donations, 4.9% contract services, 18.9% private grants/foundations, 1.5% state funds, 1.3% federal funds, 1.9% county funds, 6.9% fund raising.
The Food Bank’s food sources are as follows: 84.01% donated, 3.23% purchased, 12.76% USDA.

Myth: The Food Bank provides foods to anyone who requests it and they can request as often as they like.
Reality: The Food Bank provides a five day supply of food to households requesting assistance once in a thirty day period.