The Kalispel Tribe Food Security Enhancement Project aims to increase access to healthy, fresh protein options through the monthly distribution of meat boxes to approximately 150 Tribal families. The Kalispel Tribal Community is one that is largely rural and low income, factors that produce significant barriers to food access and create a population that is particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. By providing Tribal households with access to healthy protein options, which are typically the most expensive part of a meal, the project intends to aid Tribal families in stretching their food budgets and ensuring that they have access to a healthy and nutritious diet.
The food supply chain issues experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic and the current rising food costs due to inflation have highlighted an urgent need to support and enhanced localized food production and distribution. Procuring the meat for this project locally increases economic opportunities for farmers and ranchers within our community and will help to establish long-term partnerships for food production and distribution.