Elevated Montana Launches Community Food Pantries

With many families feeling the squeeze lately, a lot of Montanans are doing their best to stretch what they have and take care of the people they love. We see it every day in the conversations we share across our stores: small comments about groceries costing more than they used to, or how far a paycheck needs to go.

These moments stay with us because they remind us that community care is built through real people and real needs.

That is why we are opening free community food pantries at every Elevated location in Montana. If you are new to who we are, Elevated is a Montana-owned and Montana-grown cannabis company created by people who call this state home.

Our purpose has always centered on making sure our neighbors feel supported, informed, and welcomed. These pantries are another way for us to show up and meet people where they are.

You can now find a stocked, no-barriers pantry at any of our 18 stores:

Whether you need a few items to help you get through the week or you are in a position to support someone else, we invite you to keep reading. These pantries belong to all of us, and together we can make sure every community in Montana feels a little more supported and a little less alone.

A Small Way to Show Up

We have a saying we come back to a lot: we cannot change the world overnight, but if we can help just one person, we'll do it every time. That idea guides far more of our work than most folks realize.

Montana communities are built on quiet acts of care. Someone drops off soup at a neighbor's house. Someone else shovels an extra sidewalk after a snowstorm.

It is not dramatic, but it is steady, and it is who we are.

The food pantries reflect that same spirit of stepping in when life feels heavier for someone. They are simple, practical, and rooted in the belief that no one should have to struggle alone.

They also fit into a broader pattern of how Elevated tries to show up for the people who walk through our doors, and for the people who might never shop with us at all.

Here are a few of the community-focused efforts that have shaped our company over the years:

• Food drives: Seasonal donation drives that support local families, especially in smaller towns with limited resources. Teams gather what they can, and customers often join in quietly and generously.
• Access-to-Medicine sign-up events: Community events where we help people complete the final steps of obtaining their Montana medical card, including paperwork and guidance. No obligation, no pressure, just access.
• Employment opportunities for local students: In college towns, we hire students who are balancing school, housing costs, and shifting schedules. We work with them so they can maintain both income and stability.
• Respectful support for tribal members: In and near tribal communities, we offer
• ID-based discounts and approach every interaction with cultural awareness and care. Our goal is to be respectful partners and good neighbors.
• Consistent support for veterans: Veterans make up a significant portion of Montana, and we honor that with ongoing discounts and service that reflects their experiences and needs.

These efforts do not fix everything, but they keep us grounded in what matters: caring for Montanans in meaningful, practical ways.

The food pantries are simply the next step in that commitment.

Here’s How It Works

The whole point of these food pantries is simplicity.

We wanted something anyone could walk up to without hesitation or worry, something that feels like it belongs in the community rather than standing apart from it.



Every pantry is stocked, maintained, and designed to be as easy to use as possible. If you need something, take it. If you have a little extra to give, you’re welcome to do that too. Everything else is handled quietly by our staff so the experience stays stress-free and judgment-free.

Open at All Elevated Stores Across Montana

No matter where you live or where your day takes you, the pantry you see in one Elevated store will match the pantry you see in another. From Billings to Bozeman, from Missoula to Wolf Point, every location now has the same free, open-access setup.

We wanted this to be consistent because hunger doesn’t look different from one county line to the next. Support should feel familiar and reliable no matter which town you’re in.

Maybe you stop by the West End store after work, or you’re passing through Roberts on the way to the mountains, or you live near Sidney and need a few items to fill in the gaps for the week.

The goal is that the experience feels the same: walk in, find what you need, and head home with a little more breathing room.

No Sign-Up. No Questions. Just Support.

This part matters a lot to us. You do not need to explain anything to anyone. There is no form to fill out, no qualifying process, and no conversation required unless you want one. Some folks feel comfortable asking for help openly; others do not. Both are valid.

We set things up so you can simply stop in, pick up what you need, and continue on with your day. That’s it. Your dignity comes first, always.

What You’ll Find Inside

Each pantry is stocked with items chosen because they are useful, versatile, and helpful in a pinch. The exact mix may shift a little from week to week depending on availability and donations, but the essentials remain steady.

You can expect things like:

• Non-perishable food items: Canned vegetables, canned proteins, soups, and shelf-stable goods that hold up well over time.
• Pantry staples: Rice, pasta, beans, oats, and other foundational ingredients that can stretch across several meals.
• Simple, easy-to-prepare meals: Items like boxed meals, ready-to-heat options, or meal components that require minimal time or equipment.
• Occasional household essentials: Basic hygiene items, cleaning supplies, or other necessities that can ease the pressure on a tight budget.

Behind the scenes, our staff keeps an eye on what’s running low and restocks quietly, making sure the shelves stay full without drawing attention to anyone using the pantry.

Community Donations Welcome

These pantries belong to everyone, not just Elevated. If you have the ability to add a few items, we welcome it. If you cannot right now, that is perfectly okay. The spirit of this project is simple: give if you can, take if you need, and trust that both actions strengthen the community.



Whether you’re contributing, receiving, or simply telling someone else that this resource exists, you’re part of what makes this effort meaningful.

Want to Help? Spread the Word.

The food pantries are set up and running, and anyone who feels like joining in can do so in simple, everyday ways. There is no formal process. You can participate as much or as little as you want, and every contribution fits naturally into how the pantries operate.

The goal is to keep things easy, familiar, and welcoming, both for the people who use the shelves and for those who want to support them.

Community Support Begins With Awareness

One of the easiest ways to help is to point the pantries out when the moment naturally comes up. People often talk about where they are headed after work, what errands they are fitting into the weekend, or which stores they pass by on their daily routes.

If Elevated is on that list, you can mention that each location has a pantry available for anyone who wants to use it. It is a practical detail, nothing more, and it gives others a clear picture of what is available in their area.

You can also bring it up when someone mentions grocery prices or planning meals for the week. There is no need to frame it as advice. It is simply information that might make someone’s day a little easier.

Support Takes Many Shapes

If you want to do a little more, there are other small actions that make a difference. Some folks bring an item when they stop in. Others check in with someone they care about during a busy week and help them get to the store if they do not have transportation.

A few people keep an eye on the shelves during their visit and add something useful when they notice a gap.

You might also share the information with local groups you’re already part of. Community centers, parent groups, hobby clubs, or workplace conversations can all be places where a short mention helps the pantries reach the people who would value them most.

We’re Proud to Be Part of This Community

Whenever the times get tough, in Montana we tend to close ranks and support each other. Perhaps we can’t change the macroeconomic picture, but we can do our best to make life just a little bit easier for our neighbors.

It all starts with food security. Elevated owes its success to local people, and we would rather limit our profits than see anyone go hungry. Running food pantries is the least we can do, and we hope it’s just a start of a wider program that will continue to provide support for those who need it the most.

We are in this together. We are Montana-strong, and we are Montana-proud. In other words, we can do this if we all play our parts.

Let’s take care of each other, because we can’t expect anyone else to do it for us.