EBS STAFF
The greater Bozeman and Missoula communities are competing in the 25th annual Can the Griz food drive—called “Can the Cats” in Missoula—to see which community can raise more food donations for its regional food banks before the University of Montana Grizzlies face the Montana State University Bobcats in Bozeman on Nov. 23.
The traditional food drive has been collecting donations since Nov. 9 leading up to the annual season-ending football matchup. The competition ends on Saturday, Nov. 23, and the winning community will be announced during Saturday’s Cat-Griz football game at Bobcat Stadium.
Montana State and the Bozeman community have won the competition 19 times in 24 years, but Missoula won the drive by a wide margin in 2023.
“We’re in the home stretch, and every donation counts,” stated Jill Holder, food and nutrition director for the Human Resource Development Council, in an HRDC press release. “Our food banks distribute an average of 7,258 pounds of food every day. The Can the Griz drive plays a vital role in helping us meet the growing needs of our community.”
Last year, the Bozeman community donated nearly 597,000 pounds of food, and the release stated that support is critical ahead of the holiday season.
In the Bozeman region, donations will support the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Big Sky Community Food Bank and Headwaters Area Food Bank, as well as Montana State’s Bounty of the Bridgers campus food pantry.Food donations can be dropped off at various locations around Bozeman, and financial donations can be made directly to HRDC.
