Before the Griz and Bobcats meet on the field, Missoula and Bozeman go head to head in a contest that fills food bank shelves on both sides of the state.

Can the Cats, now in its 27th year, runs Nov. 7 through Nov. 21, according to the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center.

How it works

Each year, the University of Montana community and the community around Montana State University compete to raise the most food and funds for their local food banks.

Every pound of food or dollar counts as one point. Missoula’s 2026 goal is 600,000 pounds and dollars.

Missoula County won last year. In 2025, the community raised 1,091,755 pounds and dollars for the Missoula Food Bank, and the two communities together raised more than 2 million statewide, the food bank says.

Key dates

• Nov. 7: Kick-off at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and drives start all over town
• Nov. 20: Weigh-in day, when community drives bring their donations in to be weighed
• Nov. 21: Final day to donate. Bring donations to the food bank before the end of the first quarter of the Brawl of the Wild.

The food bank also lists community events during the drive, including brewery pint nights and coffee donation days, and says to watch its social media for details.

Ways to help

• Donate food at a community drive or directly at the food bank
• Donate funds through the food bank’s donation page
• Host a food drive or an online fundraiser with your workplace, school or neighbors
• Spread the word

Where to drop off

The Missoula Food Bank & Community Center is at 1720 Wyoming St. Donation drop-off is at the back-alley donation door:

• Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday and Friday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Why it matters

The food bank says it serves one in five people in Missoula County, nearly 25,000 people in 7,500 households.

It also says the drive brings in a wider variety of items and brands than it can usually stock. Title sponsors this year are First Interstate Bank, the University of Montana and the Missoula PaddleHeads.

Graphic: Missoula Eats & Treats

Sources

• Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, “Can the Cats” (checked Oct. 24, 2026): missoulafoodbank.org