Greetings, Beacon Nation! It’s Friday, it’s fall, and in the Flathead Valley, the best place to store your extra meat isn’t in your freezer — it’s in your neighbor’s belly.
Some folks call it a “gift economy” — a system through which available resources are distributed through giving, rather than exchanged transactionally for money. The heads of the ’60s dubbed it the “hip economy.” I first heard a version of the “neighbor’s belly” koan from an elder of the Ksanka band of the Ktunaxa Nation (Kootenai in western Montana) and it made an impression on me.
But it’s one thing to pay it forward in principle, and a whole other ball of bird food to do it in practice — which is why the Flathead Valley’s food purveyors are getting my hat tip of the week in today’s edition of the Daily Roundup.
I’m Tristan Scott, here to fill your bellies with a feel-good story.
In March 2020, as the Flathead Valley’s dining establishments pared back services or closed their doors amid emergency orders aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, local restaurants started dishing up prepared meals to food banks struggling to keep up with skyrocketing demands.
The neighborly arrangement helped commercial kitchens keep their pilot lights on while supporting food banks whose inventories dwindled rapidly during the early stages of the public health crisis.
And while the ongoing government shutdown is a symptom of a political pandemic, and not of an infectious disease (some readers may quibble with me on this point) food banks in the Flathead Valley are again straining under record-breaking demand as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) stalls — and local restaurants are again answering the call.
SNAP helps more than 77,000 Montanans pay for their groceries, including more than 5,800 people in Flathead County, nearly 2,800 in Glacier County and over 2,300 in Lincoln County.
But as the federal government shutdown presses into its seventh week, SNAP benefits are on the back burner, marking the first time in the program’s history that benefits have been delayed.
Enter Cutthroat Bagel Co., which on Nov. 2 dropped the following post on social media: “Looks like SNAP benefits may not be going out for a while. We want our friends and neighbors to know that as long as they withhold your benefits, we’re here for you. Order yourself and the kids a Rip and Dip bagel and schmear and when it’s time to pay, let our staff know ‘My neighbors got me,’ because that’s what neighbors do.”
“Looks Like we started a ruckus. Turns out doing good for the community is good for business. Who knew?!” according to Cutthroat Bagel Co.’s post on Friday morning after it ran out of bagels before 11 a.m. and hung its signature “Gone Fishin'” sign on the entrance door.
The community-wide support included at least one other restaurant this week, with Whitefish’s Jersey Boys Pizzeria posting: “We don’t know what’s going on in Washington with the SNAP program but we DO KNOW that no child or family should ever be hungry in this town or valley. We were inspired by Dan of Cutthroat Bagel Co. this week and what it means to be a good neighbor! So if you or your family are wondering where your next meal might come from, WE GOT YOU! Because ‘that’s what good neighbors do.’ Come in to Jersey Boys and tell our front counter that “MY NEIGHBORS GOT ME.” We’ll dish you up our lunch special — two slices or a slice and a salad. Simple. Done. No questions asked.”
The owners of both restaurants also encouraged residents to support local food banks like the North Valley, Flathead and Bigfork food banks, whose websites and social media accounts encouraged people struggling without SNAP to reach out for help, but are struggling under the outsized meal-assistance millstone as the shutdown stretches on.
Here’s some more community news and food for thought as you head into your weekend. Bon appétit!
Shutdown Stretches to Record-Breaking Length as Senate Negotiators Try to Reach a Deal
Montana’s Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke spoke with the Beacon about their thoughts on the ongoing shutdown. Both Republicans, the lawmakers echoed their party’s sentiments blaming the shutdown on Democrats, who in turn fault the GOP’s refusal to negotiate on Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Board Approves Conditional Use Permit for Bigfork Hotel
Board members unanimously approved the permit for the 65-unit hotel after delaying the project’s application over a year to address concerns about traffic and local sewer capacity
Blackfeet Nation’s Sukapi Lodge Opens as First Tribally Run Mental Health Center in U.S.
Sukapi Lodge serves all ages, offering everything from equine programs and youth mentorships to cognitive behavioral therapy and substance use disorder treatment. All enrolled members of the tribe and descendants are eligible to receive care at the center.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is excited to partner with the Wachholz College Center to present “Richard III” to audiences in Kalispell. This 80-minute production follows the rise of one of Shakespeare’s most notorious villains as he charms, manipulates and murders his way onto the English throne. This production is free and open to the public as part of the 33rd season of the Montana Shakespeare in the Schools program, and it will be followed by a 20-minute talk-back with the company.
Celebrated humorist and New York Times bestselling author David Sedaris returns to the Wachholz on Nov. 12. Sedaris is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers. Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, David Sedaris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers “Barrel Fever,” “Holidays on Ice,” “Naked,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” and more. Sedaris has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. Join FVCC Nov. 12 for an evening of wit and wisdom!
Keeping you connected to Northwest Montana.
Whether you’ve been here for decades, or you’re new to the Flathead Valley, our reporting is here to help you feel smarter and in the loop about the issues most important to Northwest Montana. With your support, we can build a more engaged, informed community.
