About the Big Sky Food Bank

The Big Sky Community Food Bank was founded in 2012.

A partnership between Big Sky community members and the Human Resource Development Council.

The Big Sky Community Food Bank was founded in 2012 as a partnership between local community leaders and the Human Resource Development Council.  Our mission is to enhance the food security, health and dignity of those in need in Big Sky in order to make Big Sky a livable and sustainable year-round community for all. We serve Big Sky residents and workforce from Gallatin and Madison counties by utilizing community resources to provide free emergency food and social services. We work alongside the grocers, kitchens, volunteers and other service-oriented organizations of Big Sky to serve an average of 2300 food boxes to 900 households every year. As a program of The HRDC, we can help customers navigate a wide variety of social services according to their individual situations. Big Sky Community Food Bank is a community space for neighbors to receive food, support and connection with one another.

Staff

Sarah Gaither Bivins Photo

Sarah Gaither Bivins

Operations Manager

In October 2013, Sarah answered an ad. in the Lone Peak Lookout and became the first and only employee of the Big Sky Community Food Bank. It was a part-time gig, so she supplemented by working for Big Sky Resort’s front desk and ski school, Wildwood Nursery, All Saints in Big Sky and a refugee support non-profit called USA Hello. Sarah earned degrees in Sociology (BA) and Educational Leadership and Policy (MA) focusing her work in sustainable community development. Sarah also serves on several committees including the Big Sky Chamber, the Big Sky Housing Trust, the Big Sky Chapel, SNO, Navigator Network and Gallatin Refugee Connections. She is very thankful the Big Sky community has supported the Food Bank in becoming a more robust wrap-around Resource Center and the ability to hire two amazing part-time staff. After 6 years in Big Sky condo hopping, Sarah now lives in Bozeman with her husband, Kurt. They love to travel, camp, float, stomp along to live music and play on the Smokey Bear Softball team.

Laine Hegness

Operations Assistant

Laine moved to Big Sky in 2015 and volunteered at the Food Bank for 5 years before joining the staff in 2020. In addition to her role here as Operations Assistant, she also works at the Big Sky Public Library as the Assistant Children’s Librarian.
On the weekends, you may find her in the park or on the trails with her husband, step-daughter and two dogs. Her other hobbies include mountain biking, reading and cooking/baking.

Candice Brownmiller

Operations Assistant

Candice Brownmiller has lived and worked in Big Sky since 2006. When Covid shut down the country in March of 2020, Candice came on staff part time as the Operations Assistant to help Sarah take care of the Big Sky community. In the past, she has volunteered at the Food Bank and was on the Advisory Council in 2014 and 2015. During the winter, Candice works for Big Sky Resort Lift Operations Department and this summer she is working for Big Sky Landscaping on the Gardening Crew. Candice loves traveling, skiing, wake surfing, playing softball for the Bears, and hiking in her free time. She is working hard to save money for her upcoming hike on the PCT, which will complete her triple crown long distance thru-hiking.

Jill Holder

HRDC Director of Food & Nutrition

Advisory Council

Jeremy Blyth

Advisory Council Chair

Lucia Damberg

Secretary

Christine Lugo-Yergenson

Christine Lugo-Yergenson, member of the Advisory Council, stands smiling in the food bank kitchenChristine has been in Big Sky since 2017. She and her family relocated from Tampa, Florida for a job and absolutely love it here.

She has been involved with the Food Bank since 2018. Christine has always tried to give back to her community and believes there is no better way than making sure that the locals and visitors are always taken care of, no matter the circumstance. Christine tries to instill that into her kids for the future, and knows the Food Bank is a valuable way to model community-mindedness to them.  Christine owns Sweet Buns bakery and catering, and each Thanksgiving hosts a community Friendsgiving event providing hundreds of free Thanksgiving meals to the Big Sky community.

In her free time she likes to play soccer, bake with her kids and hangout with her two little dogs, Bear and Coco.

Betty Smithgall

Headshot of Betty Smithgall, member of the Advisory CouncilBetty and her husband moved to Bozeman 30 years ago to start a business and raise their family. Big Sky Resort became their home mountain where their three children learned to ski through the local’s children’s program. They recently moved to Big Sky full time. Betty was involved with the Gallatin County Food Bank in Bozeman prior to joining the BSCFB Advisory Board. She appreciates the sincere care and outreach the BSCFB provides to the community which goes beyond just putting food on the table. In addition to her role on the Advisory Board, she is currently involved with Big Sky Christian Fellowship, serves on an advisory board for an international nonprofit, mentors college students, and works as a ski instructor at the resort. She enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, traveling to less known destinations, and recently took up golf and horseback riding.

Lizzie Peyton

While living in Big Sky, Lizzie has worked as a personal chef, whitewater raft guide and in the non-profit sector. Trained as a chef in Paris following an undergraduate degree in International Studies at Boston College, Lizzie worked and traveled abroad for most of her twenties while continually returning to Big Sky as this community became home. After immersing into many diverse cultures-including a biodynamic farming collective in Tanzania- soil health and regeneration became a favorite hobby study. Intent on expanding on sustainable sourcing as a chef, Lizzie delved into regenerative agriculture research to become a more conscientious consumer. Equipped with increasing knowledge of regional ecosystems resilience, she chose to hang up her apron and start working with SNO to support community driven solutions in the environmental and sustainability sectors. Her interest with the Big Sky Community Food Bank lies heavily in food recovery and creating connections within Big Sky.

Seth Griggs-Ryan

Diane Bartzick

Ex-Officio

Headshot of Diane Bartzick, member of the Advisory CouncilDiane moved to Big Sky with her family in 2010. She is one of three original council members of the Big Sky Food Bank, coordinated the raft raffle, helped create the coat room, and has volunteered in several capacities. She also spent time creating Trips for Tips fundraising at Ophir for the DC trip. In her free time she likes to read and do crafts, and is a regular attendee to Bingo nights during off season.

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