Bozeman ‘Food For Fines’ Program Helps Stock Food Bank Shelves, Give Back To Community

Bozeman, Mont. — As summer approaches, the City of Bozeman is helping community members pay off their outstanding fines in exchange for nonperishable food items, to stock local food bank shelves. 

Across Montana, 139,890 people are considered food insecure, or about one in every eight people.  

The Montana Food Bank Network has also reported that food banks across the state received more than 13 million meals in 2025.  

At HRDC in Bozeman, staff says the need for food in the community often grows when school is out for the summer, and families lose access to school meals. HRDC staff told Nonstop Local that the food pantry goes through 2.7 tons of food per day. 

“What we see now is as soon as summer happens and school is out; kids need more food; And because of the not getting summer lunch, we have a summer lunch program here, but we also see an increase in the summer at our food banks,” said Jill Holder, HRDC food and nutrition director.  

Bozeman Municipal Court Judge Karolina Tierney says the Food for Fines program that is run through the City of Bozeman aims to address that need for food, while also helping people lower what they owe to the court in fines.  

“It provides an opportunity for defendants to help with food insecurity in the community, while also decreasing their financial obligation to the court,” said Karolina Tierney. “We are keeping defendants accountable to the tickets that they had or the crimes that they committed, but that they’re doing that through providing those food items, where they’re taking responsibility, completing their sentence and helping a worthy cause,” said Tierney.  

Starting on Friday, May 29th, people with outstanding fines can bring nonperishable food to local food banks instead of paying cash.  

The program allows defendants to receive as much as $200 off qualifying fines. Parking ticket fines do not qualify for the program.  

In Bozeman, the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Center on N. Rouse Avenue. More details can be found at bozemanmt.gov.