HUNGRY HORSE — The Flathead Valley has a brand new mobile food pantry that prides itself on being different from others.
Once a week, the Kalispell Salvation Army Corps brings their newest project to a different city in the Flathead — their Mobile Hope Market.
"This is for the entire community, it's for the entire Flathead Valley and we're coming out here to bring the food to you rather than making you come to us," said Sean Pease, Kalispell Salvation Army Corps lieutenant.
The Mobile Hope Market, stocked with fresh food from local grocery stores and the USDA, encourages the community not only to come and get food, but pick exactly what they want.
"We're out here letting people come and pick their own food and pick it based on their own preferences, their cultural background, their dietary restrictions and give them that kind of dignity that maybe just giving them a food box doesn't get them," Pease said.
Hungry Horse resident Ronda Hart attended the first food drive two weeks ago and was back for a second time for that exact reason.
"You can pick out what you want instead of it being picked out for you, because some of that goes to waste," Hart said.
The Mobile Hope Market is currently serving Hungry Horse, Evergreen, Kalispell and Marion, hoping to fill in the gaps of need in the Flathead.
"We had to remind ourselves that were not just serving the Kalispell area we're serving the whole Flathead Valley. It was about getting creative and looking at ways that we can go out, bridge the gap make it so that instead of a 30 minute drive, you only have to maybe drive five minutes," Pease said.
Through two distributions, the mobile market has served about 50 families and has no barriers around who can receive help.
"We don't have limitations. We're not checking income, we're not really judging based on your life circumstances, anybody can come and get it," Pease said.
Those who have been helped strongly recommend it.
"Come on down!" Hart said.
