Food program

I am writing you as a representative of the Wave Aquatics and Fitness Center in Whitefish to encourage our community to help those in need. March is National Nutrition Month, and The Wave has partnered with Glacier Bank and the Montana Food Bank Network to help provide meals for children in need.

The program is called the Backpack Program, and it provides healthy meals for kids to take home over the weekends and on holiday breaks when they might not otherwise get enough to eat.

Thanks to a one-time start-up grant, this program is currently feeding 175 local children in Whitefish and Columbia Falls. The food and beverage packs are distributed to the children at school in a discreet manner and contain the equivalent of four healthful meals in a kid-friendly, easy-to-open container.

One in five Montana children struggle with hunger, and Flathead County’s rate is higher than the state average, where the child food-insecurity rate is nearly 1 in 4 (23.6 percent). We as a community can come together to fight child hunger by donating to the Backpack Program. Here are some ways you can help:

• Wave members can donate $1 a month with their monthly dues — sign up at the service desk.

• Make a donation of $20 or more at The Wave and receive 50 percent off Wave member enrollment fees. Information is available at the service desk.

• Make a donation at a Glacier Bank location. Any employee can assist you.

I encourage everyone to help however they can and thank you for your time.

Vicki Hill

Whitefish