MISSOULA – For three years running, Washington Monthly has named the 91次元 the No. 1 college in the nation for community and national service. Part of the reason for that success is the annual Can the Cats Food Drive, in which UM and Missoula compete against Montana State University and Bozeman to fight hunger across Montana.
The 26th edition of Can the Cats kicks off Saturday, Nov. 8, and continues through the end of the first quarter of the Griz-Cat football game in Missoula on Nov. 22.
“The Brawl of the Wild football game is one of the great rivalries in college sports, and it’s special that we harness that competition for a food drive to help those facing food insecurity in our communities,” UM President Seth Bodnar said. “We want to win on the field and also Can the Cats.”
The food drive is a partnership between UM, the UM Food Pantry and Missoula Food Bank & Community Center. The 2024 Can the Cats raised over 650,000 pounds of food and dollars in the two weeks leading up to the big game.
Starting Nov. 8 donation drives will run across town, giving supporters the chance to drop off food at their favorite locations or bring contributions directly to the food banks. Community members can donate nonperishable food items at collection sites across Missoula or make financial contributions online at . Every dollar donated counts as one pound of food toward the competition total.
“Can the Cats is about so much more than friendly rivalry,” said Amy Allison, executive director of Missoula Food Bank & Community Center. “It’s about neighbors coming together to ensure no one in our community goes hungry, while showing our Griz pride at the same time.”
Throughout the two-week competition, Missoula can look forward to community events like brewery pint nights, coffee shop donation days, sporting event partnerships and more. Details will be shared on UM and Missoula Food Bank social media, as well as online at and umt.edu/pantry.
A major Can the Cats push will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, during UM’s event at 10 Missoula grocery stories. Look for buses and donation tables at Albertsons, Orange Street Food Farm, Pattee Creek Market, Rosauers, Walmart and Yoke’s locations. Shoppers will be encouraged to purchase extra nonperishable items or donate cash on their way out of the stores.
Major sponsors of Can the Cats 2025 include First Interstate Bank, Albertsons and the Missoula Paddleheads. Additional sponsors include Community Medical Center, The Advocates, the Good Food Store, the Missoula Organization of REALTORS, Marsh McLennan and RBC Wealth Management.
Missoula Food Bank & Community Center is the primary resource for emergency food assistance in Missoula County. In 2024 the organization served 1 in 5 people countywide through its choice-model pantry. Many more are served by the food bank through rural satellite pantries and special programs serving children and seniors. On campus, the UM Food Pantry assists hundreds of college students in need each month.
“Can the Cats is a huge event for the food pantry here at UM,” said Kat Cowley, director of the campus pantry and Bear Necessities. “This is something that echoes forward to take care of people for months. This helps make sure every student and Missoula community member can thrive.”
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Contact: Kat Cowley, director, UM Bear Necessities program, 406-243-2017, kat.cowley@mso.umt.edu; Jessy Lee, director of development, Missoula Book Bank & Community Center, 406-544-5956, jessy@missoulafoodbank.org.