Missoula Republicans Organize Food Drive While Local Activists Plan Political Theater at County Courthouse

MISSOULA — As federal SNAP benefits are suspended nationwide due to the ongoing government shutdown, Missoula County’s political groups are responding in starkly different ways — one with direct community action, the other with symbolic protest.

The Missoula County Republican Central Committee launched a community food drive Friday to support local families affected by the shutdown, while activist organizations Missoula Resists and Indivisible Missoula plan a “Die-In” demonstration at the county courthouse Tuesday.

The contrast highlights fundamentally different approaches to addressing the crisis facing approximately 77,000 Montana SNAP recipients who lost their benefits November 1st.

GOP: “While Liberal Activists Play Dead”

“Local liberal activists have announced a ‘Die-In’ in response to the Department of Agriculture’s announcement that the money has run out for SNAP,” said Michael HagEstad, Chair of the Missoula County Republican Central Committee. “Just like their national counterparts, local liberal activists choose performative rather than effective action, focusing on personal exaltation and gratification. While liberal activists play dead, Missoula Republicans are organizing a food drive.”

The GOP’s food collection effort centers on Grizzly Gold at 1935 Brooks Street, where donations are being accepted during regular business hours throughout the shutdown. Republican volunteers rotate pickup duties and deliver donations to four local church food pantries serving families across Missoula County.

The participating food banks include:

• River of Hope Food Bank at River of Life Church, 4007 MT-200
• City Foods Food Bank at Revive Church, 2811 Latimer Street
• Food Pantry at Crosspoint Church, 7500 Mullan Road
• Food Pantry at Missoula Alliance Church, 100 East Foss Court

The committee has already received a $250 contribution for grocery purchases that will be delivered directly to the food banks. Donations are being weighed and recorded so the MCRCC can share total pounds collected when the shutdown ends.

Activists Frame Crisis as “GOP-Led”

The activist organizations plan their noon protest Tuesday at the Missoula County Courthouse, with participants holding tombstones and lying down “in symbolic protest, representing the lives put at risk by the loss of vital food and healthcare benefits.”

“This isn’t a budget fight — it’s a war on working people,” said Danica Nelson, one of the organizers with Indivisible Missoula. “While Washington plays politics, Montanans will go hungry.”

Their media advisory characterizes the shutdown as “GOP-led” and claims Republicans are pushing “devastating cuts” to federal programs, despite the congressional voting record showing Republicans have attempted to reopen the government more than a dozen times.

Historic SNAP Disruption

The shutdown marks the first time in SNAP’s history that benefits have been suspended, affecting approximately 42 million Americans nationwide. SNAP recipients typically receive an average of $187 monthly on prepaid cards that serve as many families’ primary source of grocery money.

Montana typically receives about $14 million monthly in federal SNAP funding. Democratic activists have pressured Governor Greg Gianforte to use state debt relief funds to cover federal SNAP payments, though without guarantees of federal reimbursement.

Senate Math Favors Republican Position

The basic arithmetic of Senate procedure supports the GOP’s characterization of Democratic responsibility: with 53 Republican senators and 60 votes needed to pass a continuing resolution, Democrats must join Republicans to reopen the government.

“Senate Republicans need 60 votes to pass a Clean Continuing Resolution, which requires at least some Democrat votes,” HagEstad said. “I want to be clear that Senate Democrats — not Republicans — are holding up funding for SNAP and other programs. Senate Democrats were perfectly willing to vote for Clean CRs under Biden, but now that the American people have put Donald Trump in charge, Democrats have changed their tune.”

Meanwhile, a coalition of more than two dozen states filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday seeking to force the Trump administration to use emergency funds to maintain SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

Community Response Takes Different Forms

The Republican food drive seeks donations of canned tuna or meat, low-sodium soup, brown rice, peanut butter, cooking oil, oatmeal, canned fruit, tomato sauce, pasta, canned vegetables, beans and chili, whole-grain cereal, low-fat salad dressings, baby food, and personal hygiene items.

The Missoula Republican Women have joined the coordination effort, helping promote the drive through their volunteer networks.

HagEstad emphasized the local versus federal political dynamic: “County Republicans don’t have any control over national politics, but we are stepping up to provide real help to our neighbors. Please consider contributing to our food drive or look for other ways to help your neighbors.”

The food drive will continue throughout the shutdown duration, while the activist demonstration is scheduled for a single day at the courthouse.

For food drive donations, items can be dropped off at Grizzly Gold during regular business hours. For more information, contact the Missoula County Republican Central Committee at [email protected].