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Photos courtesy of Family Service
Family Service: A Steady Hand for Neighbors in Need
For over a century, Family Service has been a quiet but powerful anchor in Billings. Their work reaches families who are facing crisis, stretching budgets, and trying to find their footing again. This longtime local nonprofit continues to grow, evolve, and show up for our community in ways that truly matter.
Family Service has been part of Billings since 1906, when a few local pastors started pooling resources to help neighbors who were struggling. Those early ledgers paint a clear picture of their mission taking shape. Money for medicine. Clothing for a family after a house fire. A community lifting one another up. That same spirit still drives the organization today as they serve thousands of people each year with food assistance, emergency support, and programs that pave the way toward stability.
Their vision is simple. Every person deserves to live with dignity and security. This belief guides all they do, from helping families through an unforeseen crisis to creating long-term opportunities that help people get ahead. Food insecurity, unsafe housing, lack of basic essentials, and limited access to stable employment are the challenges they tackle head-on through a wide range of programs.
At the heart of their work is the Client Choice Food Pantry, a model that lets families shop for what they truly need. It brings a sense of normalcy and respect to a time often filled with worry. Seniors in very low-income households receive support through commodity food programs, and families across Southeast Montana benefit from their extensive outreach, which now extends to 28 communities. They even freeze-dry extra produce to make sure fresh food lasts longer and goes further.
Family Service also provides one-time emergency assistance with rent, utility, or deposit to keep households together and housed. Their Education for Better Employment program opens doors to new career paths through G.E.D. support and certificate programs. Seasonal projects give families a boost right when they need it most, like backpacks for the new school year or holiday food boxes that offer relief during an expensive season.
Many people don’t realize how large their impact truly is. Every day, Family Service helps about 160 households with nearly 10,000 pounds of food. In 2024 alone, they distributed 3.4 million pounds of food in Yellowstone County and helped close to 1,000 households stay safe in their homes. Their weekly Wednesday Free Day has become a lifeline for neighbors who can’t afford basic essentials. Around 500 people visit each week to pick up what they need.
Compassion is woven into every interaction. Whether someone is walking in for the first time or returning after a challenging setback, the staff and volunteers greet them with a simple question: “How can we help?” Family Service is a secular organization that serves anyone who asks for assistance, offering support without jugement or assumptions. Their culture centers around dignity, respect, and the belief that a strong community depends on everyone having their basic needs met.
What keeps the team going are the small, steady victories they witness every day. Families finding their footing. Individuals stepping into new careers. People who once relied on Family Service returning to share how far they’ve come. Knowing they played a role in those moments is the heart of their work.
Their annual fundraising gala, The Benefit, draws a large crowd every September at the Northern Hotel and gives the community a chance to celebrate the organization’s impact. They also partner with local businesses, schools, and other nonprofits throughout the year for food and clothing drives. Collaboration is one of their core values, and they live it out daily. In 2024, they partnered with 24 local organizations and provided food support to communities across 22 Montana counties.
Looking ahead, Family Service hopes to increase access to all programs by 20 percent in the coming year, with a long-term focus on growing its reach, partnerships, and community involvement. As the needs of Yellowstone County continue to rise, they’re committed to rising with them.
Family Service wants everyone who enters their doors to feel supported, understood, and never like a burden. They’re here to help with a hand up, not a handout, and to offer stability during the moments that matter most. If you’d like to donate, volunteer, or learn more, visit www.billingsfamilyservice.org or stop by their location at 3927 1st Avenue S.
