In coordination with other organizations and community members, Waking Giant is proud to help maintain several mini-pantries that supply emergency food, hygiene products, and other essentials to anyone in need.
These food pantries are here to care for the 1 in 5 children and seniors and 1 in 7 adults who struggle with hunger in the Helena area. It’s not charity, but solidarity and building an alternative form of infrastructure.
A community of people who support each other is a community that will endure and thrive in the toughest times. Each item placed on the shelves by one neighbor is a promise of care to the neighbor who will end up using it, and tomorrow the care may flow the other direction. Learn more about the little free pantry movement at littlefreepantry.org.
Need something from a pantry, or want to contribute? All community members are encouraged to take items as needed, and/or bring items as they are able. We trust each other, no strings attached.
Please check out our main Community Resources page for information on more food resources in the Helena community
For a map to these and other food resources, see our downloadable, printable map here or download it directly from here.
Current Mini-Pantries
Premier Mini-Pantries (most likely to be stocked)
The following pantries were established with the help of Waking Giant and are checked and restocked at least weekly [as of March 2026].
PureView Health Center 9th Ave (entryway)
1930 9th Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 (north entrance)
Lewis & Clark County Health Department (entryway)
1930 9th Avenue, Helena, MT 59601 (west entrance)
PureView Health Center Downtown (entryway)
630 North Last Chance Gulch, Suite 1100, Helena, MT 59601
Lewis & Clark County Library (to left after entering main doors)
120 S. Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601
700 Block of North Cooke Street (east side of Cooke St, behind Jimmy John’s)
~720 N. Cooke Street, Helena, MT 59601
School Mini-Pantries
Both of Helena’s high schools maintain their own pantries for students in need of extra help with food or hygiene products. Enquire with the school office or the counseling office about using or helping to stock these pantries.
Capital High School
100 Valley Drive, Helena, MT 59601
Helena High School
1300 Billings Avenue Helena, Montana 59601
Other Mini-Pantries
These pantries are currently not stocked, or are not stocked as often. If you or your organization are thinking of adopting any of these, or if you notice that any of these pantries have become more active, please reach out and let us know!
Ten Mile Creek Brewery (outdoors, south of main entrance)
48 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601
400 Block of Cruse Ave (outdoors, north of Holter Art Museum)
Cruse Ave between Lawrence St and 11th Ave, Helena, MT 59601
Stocking Pantries
Anyone who wants to contribute to the pantries is welcome to do so at any time (for indoor locations, check host entity’s hours).
Every location has different needs and limitations, so we encourage you to consider the locale when you bring items.
- Some pantries are in tighter spaces than others, so bulky items may not fit.
- If a package contains a large number of separately packaged items, such as a box of canned soups, try removing the items from the box to make them easier to access and to encourage folks to take only what is needed.
- Consider packing useful amounts of small items into clean plastic baggies (e.g., 5-10 tampons, pads, or handwarmers).
- Be careful to keep items out of reach if they could be harmful to small children (e.g., Tide Pods).
Commonly needed items:
- Ready-made or easy-to-prepare foods: canned soups/chili, meal mixes, ramen noodle cups or packets, macaroni & cheese cups or boxes, tuna/chicken salad kits, single-serve oatmeal packs, breakfast cereal
- Snacks: Granola bars, nuts/seeds, dried fruit, trail mix, fruit snacks, pretzels, popcorn, packaged cookies or crackers, peanut butter crackers, applesauce, pudding cups, fruit cups, juice packets, juice boxes, jerky
- Pantry staples: canned or dried vegetables/beans/proteins, boxed or canned broth/stock, rice, pasta, canned sauces, shelf-stable cheese, tortillas, dessert mixes, condensed milk, powdered milk, coffee, tea, flour, peanut butter, jelly
- Personal care items:
- feminine hygiene products, cleaning supplies, toilet paper
- toothbrushes, toothpaste, alcohol-free mouthwash, dental floss, toothpicks
- hand sanitizer, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, washcloths
- chapstick, lotion, combs, brushes, nail clippers, shaving supplies
- first aid supplies, cough drops, Vick’s vaporub, cotton balls, cotton swabs, aloe gel
- Baby care items: diapers, wet wipes, baby food, baby formula
- Comfort items and weather gear:
- hats, socks, gloves, handwarmers, rain gear, sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses
- candles, handkerchiefs, eating utensils, mini sewing kits, dish soap, laundry soap
- small toys, playing cards, notepads, writing utensils, crayons/markers/colored pencils,
While we encourage community members