SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry & Services Supporting Underwater Soldiers Fundraiser

The SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry & Services is proud to support and participate in the Underwater Soldiers Fundraiser on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM at the Drunk’n Miner, located at 1800 Meadowlark Lane in Butte, Montana.

This community event is dedicated to helping local veterans gain access to dive therapy through the Underwater Soldiers program — an innovative therapeutic program that uses scuba diving to support veterans struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, isolation, and other invisible wounds of service.

The fundraiser will feature:

• Live music by DJ Liquid Sound

• Silent auction

• $5 BBQ

• Family-friendly activities

• Car and bike show

• Gun raffle featuring a .308 AR-10

At the SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry & Services, we believe mental health support is just as important as food security. Through our partnership with Underwater Soldiers, we have seen firsthand how dive therapy helps veterans rebuild confidence, reduce stress, create healthy connections, and find healing through community and purpose.

This fundraiser helps make these life-changing opportunities available to more veterans across Montana by assisting with program costs, equipment, and ongoing support services.

We encourage the community to come out, enjoy the event, and help support local veterans on their journey toward healing and wellness. Together, we can continue making sure our veterans know they are not alone.

SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry & Services to Attend Bitterroot Valley Veteran’s Resource Fair

The SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry & Services is excited to announce that we will be attending the Bitterroot Valley Veteran’s Resource Fair on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds Event Center in Hamilton, Montana. The event will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with an opening ceremony beginning at 10:00 AM.

This community-wide event brings together veteran-focused organizations, service providers, and community resources from across the region to support veterans and their families. The fair will feature breakout sessions, resource information, veteran support services, and opportunities for veterans to connect directly with organizations dedicated to their well-being.

Our team will be on-site to share information about the services we provide throughout Southwest Montana, including:

• Veteran grocery assistance

• Rural outreach food distributions

• Transportation assistance to medical appointments

• The Safe Place Program

• Mental health and peer support connections

• Assistance for homeless and at-risk veterans

• Information about our Veterans Thrift Store and additional support programs

We are proud to stand alongside other organizations working to ensure veterans have access to the care, resources, and support they deserve. If you are attending the Resource Fair, please stop by and say hello — we would love to meet you and share more about our mission of providing “a hand up, not a handout.”

Whitehall Veteran Food Distribution – May 16, 2026

The SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry & Services is proud to bring our mobile food distribution program to Whitehall on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Whitehall Community Center, located at 11 N. Division Street in Whitehall, Montana.

This free grocery distribution is open to veterans and veteran families in the area. Our goal is to help ensure that no veteran in Southwest Montana goes hungry by providing access to nutritious food in a respectful, welcoming environment. Veterans attending the distribution are asked to please bring proof of veteran status in order to be served.

As a veteran-focused pantry, we understand that many veterans face challenges related to rising food costs, transportation, fixed incomes, and access to services in rural communities. Outreach events like this help us bring support directly to veterans who may not be able to travel to our Deer Lodge location.

The SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry & Services operates as a grocery-store-style pantry, giving veterans the dignity of choice while receiving support. Through our outreach distributions, partnerships, and volunteers, we continue working toward our mission of providing “a hand up, not a handout.”

For more information about the Whitehall distribution, please contact:

• Jay Wood: 406-846-4777

• Tom: 406-498-4500

After the ride, come hungry and join us for our Community BBQ! Open to everyone, this family-friendly event features delicious food, raffle prizes, a silent auction, live music, and more. It’s a great way to support local veterans while enjoying an evening of fun, food, and community spirit.

Join us for our Annual Poker Run, a thrilling ride through Southwest Montana to support the SW Montana Veterans Food Pantry! Riders of all kinds are welcome to participate in this fun-filled day featuring scenic stops, great company, and a winning hand. The event ends with a lively Community BBQ, raffle prizes, silent auction, live music, and more. All proceeds help ensure no veteran goes hungry. Ride with purpose—support those who served!