Helena Churches Donate $31,000 to Kid Pack Program

A group of six local churches raised funds to support weekend nutrition for students in the Helena area.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Philanthropy

Screen-print poster illustration of a milk bottle and wheat stalk, evoking community support for student nutrition programs. — Six Helena-area churches raised $31,000 for the Food Share Kid Pack program, exceeding their goal to fund student nutrition for 2026-27. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Six Helena-area churches have donated $31,000 to the Helena Food Share Kid Pack program, successfully surpassing their initial fundraising goal of $25,000. The funds will cover milk costs for participating students during the 2026-27 school year.

Why it matters

The campaign ensures that local children facing food insecurity maintain consistent access to essential nutrition on weekends. The effort reflects growing community support for the program, which has expanded its reach significantly since 2014.

The fundraising campaign doubled participation from three churches last year to six this year. These contributions support a program that serves between 1,000 and 1,100 students across 25 schools and preschools weekly.

The players

Helena Food Share

This is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger in the Helena area through various food distribution programs.

The details

The Kid Pack program provides weekend food supplies to children in Helena, East Helena, Boulder, Basin, Canyon Creek, Clancy, and Lincoln. The donated funds specifically target milk costs to maintain the nutritional balance of the provided food packs.

The Kid Pack program began operations in five Helena schools in 2014.
Helena Food Share delivered 41,090 total packs in 2025.
The churches presented their donation to the organization on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
The funding covers milk costs for the 2026-27 school year.

Market Landscape

The expansion of the Kid Pack program from five schools in 2014 to 25 in 2026 demonstrates a trend of increasing reliance on community-funded nutrition initiatives to support local students. This surge in donations highlights a shift toward localized philanthropic efforts to fill gaps in regional food security.

The increased church participation helps ensure that over 1,000 students in the Helena area continue to receive consistent weekend food support. Families served by the 25 participating schools and preschools will see the program continue without interruption through the current school year.

The takeaway

Community-led fundraising campaigns are essential to sustaining programs that address food insecurity in schools. Residents looking to support similar efforts can contribute directly to local organizations that manage regional distribution networks.