Smith's donates $10 million to communities

Smith’s Food & Drug Stores donated $10 million in cash and products to more than 2,200 nonprofit organizations in seven western states through its Neighbor to Neighbor charitable giving program. That includes $343,000 to 117 schools and nonprofit charities in Montana.

Assistance was primarily focused on fighting hunger, supporting K-12 education, children’s hospitals, promoting women’s health (primarily breast cancer), development of minorities and women, and support for local grassroots organizations.

Local organizations receiving benefits included Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Flathead, Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Falls Food Pantry, Columbia Falls High School, Columbia Falls Junior High School, Columbia Falls Kiwanis Club, Columbia Falls Lions Club, Columbia Falls School District 6, Farm Hands Community Garden of Flathead Valley, Flathead Industries, Glacier Gateway Elementary School, Glacier Institute, Glacier National Park Conservancy, Half Moon Highlander 4-H Club, Hockaday Museum of Art, Montana Conservation Corps, North Valley Senior Center, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program RSVP, Ruder Elementary School, Violence Free Crisis Line, and West Glacier School.