A BOUNTIFUL RIVALRY

PureWest offices take part in the Can the Cat-Griz food drive — and you can too!

In Montana, Missoula and Bozeman reflect the best that a university can bring to a city: a continual curiosity, a diversity of voices, a never-ending calendar of things to do, and, of course, a full slate of teams to root for. Both the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats play in the Big Sky Conference and any time they face off against one another, the energy and excitement of a Cat-Griz matchup is a winning ticket!

This year, Missoula is hosting the rivalry game, and Saturday’s matchup comes with more than just bragging rights and the bronze Brawl of the Wild trophy — the Big Sky Conference championship is on the line, as both teams enter with a conference-best 6-1 record.

Montana State University campus. Photo by Tim Evanson

But football isn’t the only thing Griz and Cat fans will be competitive about this weekend — they also duke it out for charity! The annual Can the Cat-Griz Food Drive.

For the last 24 years, the local communities have benefitted from the canned food donations that this charity drive provides. In Bozeman, all donations collected throughout these two weeks help stock the shelves of the Gallatin Valley Food Bank as well as MSU’s campus food pantry, the Bounty of the Bridgers. In the Zoo, efforts will boost the UM Food Pantry’s work to support students experiencing food insecurity and stock the shelves at the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, helping them to support thousands of Missoula County households working to ensure their families have enough to eat during the holiday season.

The Bozeman community has won the Can the Cat-Griz Food Drive in all but four years, including last year, when Cat fans donated a combined 608,000 dollars and pounds of food (1$=1 lb of food), while Missoula had more than 428,000.

University of Montana campus. Photo by Scott Mulligan

Here at PureWest, we know the importance of getting involved in the community through charitable work, and last year, our PureWest Missoula office donated $2,224, and the Bozeman office donated $5,500.

You can donate through Nov. 18 — see local drop-off locations on and off campus in Bozeman and Missoula, or reach out to your local PureWest office today and ask if they’re taking part. Whether you’re a loyal Griz, a devoted Cat, or a house divided, you can join us in helping those in need this holiday season.