Recently, Blacktail Health relocated our clinic’s food pantry. Like any change, it raises questions from the community that we wanted to address.
We started our food pantry 8 months ago, when SNAP benefits were temporarily suspended during the government shutdown. We recognized the need for our patients and the broader community to have better access to food, and we wanted to help. We’re excited about how widely it has been utilized and grateful that our staff and community members donate food so others can get what they need.
Some issues with the food pantry have persisted, raising health and safety concerns. After extensive discussions, we decided to move it inside the clinic.
We want to be clear that the food pantry is still open. We want to provide food without judgment. Now, patients should ask the care manager to take them to the pantry. This also helps us build a connection, offer additional support, and link them to helpful resources.
We acknowledge that this will be another step for people to take, and we won’t take it lightly. We are also setting up an outdoor panty soon. It will be open 24/7 and stocked with canned goods and other items suitable for outdoor use.
The health and safety of our patients remain our top priority. If you have feedback about these or other changes and services at Blacktail Health, we invite you to contact BreAnna Matich at (406) 496-6016 or bmatich@blacktailhealth.org.