MISSOULA — As winter weather moves into Montana, many are faced with food insecurity. Missoula based virtual nonprofit Essential Eats Distributors works to end food insecurity for Montana's indigenous people in need.
Sara Wecker of Missoula is the founder of Essential Eats and the organization has over 80 volunteers all over Montana. Those volunteers bring food and other items to tribal lands.
Wecker wanted to help the people that are hit most when the colder weather hits, she said, "for me its to bridge the gap, the cultural differences are real, the poverty issues are real, the resiliency among the people is also very real.”
The focus of Essential Eats Distributors during the holidays is to bring food to people in need through a price efficient strategy.
“We look for wholesalers that will give food to us at a good price," said Wecker, "and we purchase other items and bring them over to people in need."
Essential Eats volunteer Linda Ritten has volunteered for three years and wants to help due to her family ties.
“My mother grew up in Browning and she had told me about their Christmases and i used to feel bad for her and i wanted to give back somehow,” said Ritten.
Essential Eats recently delivered its biggest donation to date with 700 turkeys to four tribal lands.
In the May 2020, Essential Eats will be donating bikes as part of the nonprofits bike program.
Essential Eats Distributors is in need of volunteers to deliver December boxes to various locations, as well as bike mechanics. If you are interested in volunteering you can visit the EED Facebook page or call Sara Wecker directly at 829-6348.
Previous MTN stories on Essential Eats Distributors:
Montana Ag Network: Missoula non-profit provides fresh foods to Blackfeet Nation
Missoula group helping bring bikes to the Fort Belknap Reservation
