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Missoula's EmPower Place having positive impact on local families

EmPower Place.jpg
Posted at 5:15 PM, Jan 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-23 19:52:29-05

MISSOULA — Three local organizations came together in July of 2017 to create a family learning space within the Missoula Food Bank.

The goal was to address local food insecurity while also offering kids an educational play space.

Now, two-and-a half years later, EmPower Place has proven its impact by families who say they can’t imagine life without it.

Organizers say this multifaceted family learning center is extremely unique, and something you’ll only find in Missoula.

A collaboration between the Missoula Food Bank, SpectrUM Discovery Area, and the Missoula Public Library, EmPower Place brings engaging activities to local kids Monday through Thursday.

From art exhibits and historical storytelling time, to science experiments and a fully stocked library, EmPower Place is breaking access barriers, and giving kids from all walks of life a leg up when it comes time to start school.

“So, we came and checked it out, and the very first day we showed up they were having science experiments and my kid was all about it,” recalled Kristina King of Missoula. “And I was like ‘well this is really great’.”

“It’s an educational place, he can take small science classes and learn the basics before he’s actually in school. We just never stopped coming, he loved it so much,” she added.

Click here to learn more about EmPower Place.