When healthcare providers talk about treating the whole person, they usually mean addressing physical, mental, and social health together. Southwest Montana Community Health Center is taking that commitment a step further.
The nonprofit healthcare provider has opened a free food pantry in the main waiting room of its Butte clinic at 445 Centennial Avenue. The pantry stocks nonperishable food items for anyone experiencing food insecurity - no questions asked, no paperwork required.
Healthcare Meets Community Support
The connection between food security and health isn't subtle. Patients struggling to afford groceries often face impossible choices between filling prescriptions and feeding their families. They skip meals to stretch budgets, leading to complications with diabetes management, blood pressure control, and other chronic conditions.
Southwest Montana Community Health Center recognized this reality among the nearly 13,000 patients it serves annually across the region. The food pantry represents a practical response to a problem their care teams witness daily.
Located directly in the main waiting room, the pantry is accessible to anyone who needs it. Patients and community members can simply help themselves during clinic hours. For those who prefer privacy, the care team will discreetly prepare a food bag upon request.
Open to Everyone
The pantry operates during the Butte clinic's regular hours: Monday through Thursday from 8am to 6pm, and Friday from 8am to 5pm. No one needs to be a patient to access the food - the resource is available to anyone in the community facing food insecurity.
This approach aligns with the health center's broader Mission as a community healthcare provider: Inspire hope and empower wellness by providing access to comprehensive healthcare. The organization already offers comprehensive medical care, dental services, pharmacy services, case management services, and behavioral health support, with a sliding fee scale to ensure cost never becomes a barrier to care.
How the Community Can Help
Keeping the pantry stocked requires ongoing community support. The health center welcomes donations of nonperishable food items to maintain consistent availability for those in need.
The Butte location isn't working alone on this issue. Southwest Montana Community Health Center's Dillon and Anaconda clinics also participate in community-wide food security efforts and food drives, extending this commitment across their service area.
Taking the Next Step
Community members who want to learn more about the food pantry, make a donation, or access the resource can contact the Butte clinic directly at (406) 723-4075.
For information about the health center's full range of medical, dental, pharmacy, case management, and behavioral health services - or to learn about the sliding fee scale program - visit www.swmtchc.org or call 406-723-4075. The organization also maintains active updates on Facebook and Instagram.
Sometimes the most meaningful healthcare happens outside the exam room. By addressing food insecurity alongside medical needs, Southwest Montana Community Health Center is working to ensure that access to essentials doesn't remain out of reach for anyone in the community.
Lee Enterprises newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content.
