Bigfork Food Bank hires first paid executive director

Jamie Quinn loves feeding people.  

Recently appointed as Bigfork Food Bank’s new executive director, and first and only paid employee, Quinn has around 15 years of professional experience in nonprofits, including six years with Flathead Food Bank.  

“I feel like if we’re able to, our job on this Earth should be to make the place better and help our fellow neighbor; that’s pretty much the most important fundamental rule of life is to make it better than when you started,” Quinn said. Food is her chosen medium for that endeavor.  

Until Quinn’s hiring, the Bigfork Food Bank was entirely volunteer-run and still has a steady crew helping out. Volunteers logged 6,151 hours at the food bank last year. Quinn will help out with administrative tasks, grant writing, as well as the general management of the food bank.  

Shortly after starting her new job, Quinn came in the office to find volunteers rocking a baby while his mother shopped. In the past she has seen a woman able to bake her grandkids fresh strawberry shortcake for the first time thanks to a food bank, and kids receive a birthday cake with help from food programs.  

Maintaining an open, welcoming environment is a top priority for Bigfork Food Bank.  

“There’s a concept in every community, especially when you get into like Bigfork and Lakeside and Whitefish, that you don’t need a food bank, that there aren’t people that live in these communities that need food access, and it’s really pretty far from the truth,” Quinn said.  

She explained that a lot of the time, people working in food industries need help putting food on their own table. The elderly, disabled and children are top beneficiaries of food banks, and thanks to Bigfork’s customer shopping model, are able to choose their own food inline with their nutritional or dietary needs. Bigfork Food Bank also provides firewood, pet food and toiletries to people in need, items which are not covered by SNAP benefits. 

In 2024, Bigfork Food Bank served 241 households with 591 individuals, including 187 children and 127 seniors. The organization distributed 114,722 pounds of food and 4,939 pounds of non-food items, such as cleaning supplies, pet food and toilet paper. 

Quinn explained that changes to programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, Section 8, even free and reduced lunches can impact a family’s ability to feed their home. She will be watching the current state legislature and federal decisions for potential upsets.  

“Food banks are like the number one service that keeps people in their homes. It keeps elderly people in their homes, it keeps people at risk of losing their homes in their homes, it prevents people from losing power or not paying for medication. It’s kind of the canary in the coal mine, the number one thing people are going to get assistance with when they’re really struggling is typically food,” Quinn said.  

If there are any changes at Bigfork Food Bank, Quinn said, they will be customer-driven, whether that is through questionnaires or conversations to determine need.  

Quinn opened the door to anyone who wants to come check out the food bank, see how it operates or learn about food access, whether they are in need or not.  

“That’s what we have to remind people of, is that there’s really caring people in this community that want to feed you and the worst thing when you are at a food bank or some sort of resource like that is the people that don’t come because they’re afraid to,” Quinn said.  

The Bigfork Food Bank Board of Directors was excited to welcome Quinn onboard, saying in a press release, “We look forward to the positive impact that Jamie will make as we work together to help and serve our neighbors.” 

Bigfork Food Bank is open every Tuesday. The first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Any month that has a fifth Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Questions can be answered by calling (406) 837-2297 or online at https://www.bigforkfoodbank.org/contact-us/.  

The food bank accepts donations to their big blue food bin 24/7 and is particularly interested in extras like toiletries and pet food. Monetary donations can be made online at bigforkfoodbank.org.