MSU's Can the Griz food drive collects equivalent of more than 1 million pounds of food

Montana State University and Gallatin Valley communities donated the equivalent of more than one million pounds of food, a record amount, to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank and MSU’s Bounty of the Bridgers food pantry as part of the 26th annual Can the Griz food drive.

Can the Griz — and the corresponding Can the Cats food drive in Missoula — is an off-field competition between MSU and the University of Montana to see which school can collect the most donations for its local food bank. The competition is held each year as part of the celebration of the Brawl of the Wild football game between the two rival schools.

This year, MSU and Gallatin Valley communities donated 335,189 pounds of food and $683,424, according to Kim Cleary in the MSU Office of Student Engagement, which coordinates Can