Flathead Valley Food Banks Face Rising Demand Because of SNAP Cuts

Food banks in Montana’s Flathead Valley are seeing more demand despite an 8.4% drop in SNAP recipients since July 2025.

Food bank directors in Flathead, North Valley, and Bigfork report rising visits even as fewer residents receive SNAP benefits due to H.R. 1’s new work requirements and complex paperwork. This structural shift reveals growing food insecurity amid tightening federal assistance.

The North Valley Food Bank’s pantry visits rose from 23,700 to 28,991 over the past year, serving over 1,500 people weekly. Flathead Food Bank assisted more than 7,000 residents last year, while Bigfork Food Bank welcomes two to ten new families weekly. Meanwhile, SNAP rolls declined locally by 8.1% in Lake County, 9.7% in Lincoln County, and 11% in Flathead County. Food banks cite rising food and gas prices, loss of grant funding, and increased operational costs as compounding factors. Staff have launched referral programs to connect clients with additional community resources.

Though no explicit future plans are detailed, food banks are preparing for ongoing strain as affordability challenges and SNAP policy changes persist.

‘We Just See More and More People’: Flathead Food Banks Say Demand Steady as SNAP Benefits Taper and Prices Rise
By Mariah Thomas, Flathead Beacon