Bozeman Company Collects and Donates 1,800 Pounds of Food to Local Food Bank

During our annual employee food drive this November, WealthVest’s employees collected and donated more than 1,800 pounds of food to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, nearly 200 pounds more than in 2021. The donation will support the nonprofit’s mission to improve food security in the community, especially during the holiday season.  

"I am very proud of our organization for coming together to support such an important cause,” said Phil Katzman, marketing automation manager at WealthVest and food drive organizer. “It is humbling to be surrounded by so many selfless individuals that are helping to change lives. We did great as a team and I am excited to carry this tradition forward for many years to come.” 

An essential service in Southwest Montana, the Gallatin Valley Food Bank provided 13,688 food boxes (a 5-day supply of groceries) and supported 7,874 individuals between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 in the Bozeman and Belgrade communities, according to their 2021-2022 Annual Report. The nonprofit also supplies food to several outlying communities through its two satellite food banks in Three Forks and Big Sky, as well as a variety of nonprofit partners and housing sites throughout the region.  

To help garner donations during the drive, WealthVest’s employees chose to compete against one another in a points-based food drive competition. Items donated from the Gallatin Valley Food Bank’s Wish List - canned produce, granola bars, baby wipes, and cereal - received 2 points, turkeys equaled 5 points, and all other donated items earned 1 point.  

WealthVest’s four teams accumulated a total of 2,369 points this year, with the winning team donating food items equal to 955 points. The winning team consisted of WealthVest employees Phil Katzman, Lindsey Buckley, Andrew Keizer, Morgan Scott, Steven Japhet, Katelyn Couturier, Jamie Parisi, Malia Brock, Nathan Whitney, Sydney Kimball, Aaron Jacobsen, Michael Ramos, Gretchen Boyd, Matt Hamman, Sandy Cassaday, and Preston Fisher. 

The Gallatin Valley Food Bank is currently accepting donations at their location on Bond Street off of North Rouse in Bozeman, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. View the nonprofit’s full wish list at www.gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org.