Author Archives: Canyon Hohenstein

Can the Cats Food Drive have been running for a quarter century—that’s 25 years of helping our fellow Missoulians.  

The Advocates are proud to sponsor this drive because of its tremendous impact. Last year alone, the Missoula community raised 870,192 lbs/$ in food and funds for our local Food Bank. 

Here’s all the information you need to know.  

What Is Can the Cats? 

This food drive is a friendly, off-field competition between the University of Montana Grizzlies, the Montana State University Bobcats, and the communities of Missoula and Bozeman. The two cities work to collect food and funds for their local food banks. At the end of the drive, all the donations are weighed and counted. The city that donates the most wins! 

Missoula hasn’t “canned” the Cats in four years—let’s make it happen in 2024. Our goal is to donate 500,000 pounds or dollars. 

Donations in Missoula will benefit the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center and the University of Montana Food Pantry. 

How Can You Help? 

There are several ways to contribute to the Can the Cats Food Drive. The first is to donate non-perishable food items, like canned and boxed pantry items. The most needed items are canned beans, peanut butter, bulk rice, oats, and flour. 

You may also donate turkeys, potatoes, onions, and carrots for holiday meals. These food items count toward the total weight of donations. 

If you cannot contribute food items, you may make a financial donation to the food bank. Each dollar will be counted as one pound of food. 

Donation details can be found below. 

How to Help 

Dates: November 9th-23rd. The Grizzly-Bobcat football game on November 23rd is the last chance to donate. 

Drop-off locations: The Advocates’ Missoula law office 

910 Brooks St., Suite 103 

Missoula, MT 59801 

Other drop-off locations throughout Missoula can be found on the Missoula Foodbank website. 

Financial donations: Donate to Can the Cats directly using this QR code: 

What could be better than fall? Leaves are a tapestry of crimson and gold, pumpkin spice lattes are aplenty, and America’s children dress up in their favorite costumes while getting candy. It’s a magical season.  

The Advocates want to increase that magic, so we are sponsoring the Monster Block Party, a communal event focused on the imaginative wonder of Halloween.  

Every kid of every age is welcome.   

The Details 

The Monster Block Party will be on October 26th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — three hours of Halloween-themed fun. It’ll be at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City. The best part is it won’t cost you a penny. Entrance is completely free. 

The highlight of the event will be Trunk or Treat. Your kids can dress as witches, wizards, or whatever they want. Just be sure they have a bag for the candy they’ll get as they go from car trunk to car trunk. People from your community will be ready to hand out candy at each trunk. 

The fun doesn’t stop there. There will be face painting all day, inflatables of goblins, ghosts, and everything in between, and a petting zoo. All the while, you can enjoy live Halloween performances.  

At 1:00 p.m., our very own Salt Lake City Fire Department will come to do the Pumpkin Drop. Towards the end of the day, winners will be announced for the trunk-or-treat competition.  

How You Can Help a Child This Halloween  

The great tragedy of Halloween is that financial barriers prevent many kids from dressing up as their favorite superhero or princess. The Advocates cannot stand by and let this happen, so we’re proud to partner with Good Things Utah to collect new and gently used costumes for kids whose families can’t afford one.   

Here are the drop-off locations for costumes:  

• Salt Lake City: 737 East Winchester Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107  

• Ogden: 533 26th Street, Ogden, Utah 84401  

• American Fork: 388 W Main St, American Fork, Utah 84003 

The Advocates are ready for another Salt to Saint biking odyssey. We’ve been a part of this thrilling ride in the past, and we’re ready to take on the challenge again this year.  

The great trek begins September 20th and 21st. Register now and begin to prepare for Utah’s greatest cycling adventure.  

What Is the Salt to Saint?  

Salt to Saint is a 421-mile bike ride along Highway 89 from Salt Lake City to Saint George. It is equal parts fun and challenging, allowing you to explore the otherworldly Utah scenery while biking at your own pace.

You don’t have to do the whole ride, and you do not have to do it alone. 

You can ride in a team of eight or four or go solo if you wish. The event coordinators will help you find a team if you need one.   

The journey is divided into 24 legs, ranging between 11 and 23 miles long. Each individual or team must determine what parts of the race they want to participate in.   

Start times for teams and individuals will be posted after registration closes.  

Participation includes the following:  

• A well-marked course (signage telling riders where to turn)  

• Live satellite tracking  

• Excellent driving directions for your support vehicle  

• Cool finisher medals (If you finish)  

• A good-looking T-Shirt  

• Team bag with goodies from sponsors  

• Vehicle markings  

• Well-planned, safe transition areas  

• Port-a-potties or other restrooms along the route  

• Accurate timing   

• Salt To Saint relay window decals for every rider  

• Great finish line events, including music, drinks, and other goodies  

Biking Safety Tips  

Keep in mind that this is a ride, not a race. A ride is a cycling event that does not involve road closures or police support to control traffic. A race is a cycling event with a closed course, and the primary focus is to be the fastest team to finish.  

The rules of the road still apply to all bikers participating in Salt to Saint.  

Here are some other safety tips to abide by: 

• Wear a helmet: Helmets are estimated to decrease head and brain injury risk by 65-88%. 

• Stay visible: Use lights, reflectors, and bright clothing to make yourself seen.  

• Ride in groups: Cyclists who ride with others are less likely to be struck by a motor vehicle while riding (thanks to increased visibility).  

• Follow the rules of the road: In general, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles while on public roadways. Follow all signs and signals to keep everyone safe.  

• Never ride under the influence: About one-third of fatal bike crashes involve alcohol.  

• Keep your phone put away: Just like with motor vehicle drivers, texting while riding dramatically increases the risk of a crash.  

How The Advocates Can Help Bikers  

We love Salt to Saint, but there is no denying the inherent risks of such a long and arduous journey. If during the ride you get hurt for reasons out of your control, reach out to us, and we can help you access medical care, get your bike repaired, and obtain a fair settlement for your injuries.