Free or reduced price school meals

Free or reduced price school meals are available to any student that qualifies. For more information, visit the MCPS Free and Reduced Price Meal Information page.

Summertime free lunches and other food assistance

Summertime free lunches and other food assistance is available through various programs in and around Missoula:

• Missoula Public Library and other locations through the Missoula Food Bank Kid’s Table.
• Free snacks, dinners, and activities at the Burns Street Kids Club, held by the North Missoula Community Development Corporation.
• In East Missoula, the River of Life Church runs the summer food truck, named Feed the Need.

Community Food Assistance Programs

Here are some food assistance programs in our area:

• Missoula Food Bank
• River of Life Church – Feed the Need Summer Program in East Missoula
• Clark Fork City Church

EmPower Pack program:

Rattlesnake Elementary, through the support of the Missoula Food Bank, is currently offering FREE weekend snack packs to students each weekend of the school year, called the EmPower Pack program.  Any student at Rattlesnake is eligible and many take advantage of this helpful program!

Once your kid(s) are signed up,  each Friday a grocery bag containing a variety of kid friendly snacks is placed in the student’s backpack or locker. This generally happens when the kids are at recess. Students must wait until they get home before they eat the snacks (snacks cannot be eaten in the bus line or on the bus).

In a typical week, the EmPower Packs generally contain: 2 pieces of fruit, several granola bars, several packs of instant oatmeal, 1 can of soup, 1 carton of milk/juice, several dried fruits, and individual servings of cereal.

To sign up, or with any questions, please call Stacy Jehle in the FCC at (406) 728-2400 ext. 4523 or email her at sjehle@mcps.k12.mt.us

School Food Pantry program:

The FCC maintains a food pantry on site at Rattlesnake Elementary.  If you are in need of food assistance at any time, please call Stacy Jehle in the FCC at (406) 728-2400 ext. 4523 or email her at sjehle@mcps.k12.mt.us to schedule a visit to the food pantry.