Drive To Restock Food Bank At New Location ‘They Are Finding Us’ On Best Avenue, Says Official After Move From Downtown
Despite its wintertime move from downtown, the Coeur d’Alene food bank is very much open for business and ready for a major food drive this weekend.
People who formerly got emergency food supplies and other services downtown now must go to the blue building at 1306 Best Ave., on the city’s north side.
“They are finding us,” community services director Doug Gabel said Thursday. “We probably average 11 walk-ins and six or seven appointments.
“It can be warm, beautiful weather and we can have a houseful, or it can be gray and gloomy, and we’ll have a houseful.”
The future of the food bank is uncertain because the state of Idaho does not want to renew contracts with North Idaho Community Action Agency, the organization that runs lowincome programs in the Panhandle.
Agency director Gerald Garvey testified at a recent hearing in Boise that they should be allowed to keep the contract despite ongoing financial problems.
Garvey hopes to have a decision by the end of the month. Whatever the outcome, Health and Welfare officials have promised that Coeur d’Alene will not go without a food bank.
Meanwhile, the food bank is operating with half its former storage space. That’s because it had to put the downtown building up for sale.
Seven or eight specially made bins, contributed by Jacklin Seed Co., are helping make up the difference in storage space, said Gabel.
Supplies from the last big food drive, sponsored by KHQ-TV in January, are dwindling. On Saturday, The Spokesman-Review will collect nonperishable items from its subscribers.
The next big drive will be conducted by the U.S. Postal Service in May, said Gabel.
Donations of canned fruits and multivegetable soups are especially appreciated, said Gabel.
“If they want to give us something really useful, make it things people can put in a lunch bucket. Something that might stick to the ribs, like peanut butter and tuna fish.”
A variety of foods is packed into each food box, which is meant to sustain one person for three to five days. About 60 percent of those who come seeking food have children in the family, Gabel said.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DRIVE FOR FOOD Newspaper carriers and volunteers will be in your neighborhood Saturday to collect contributions to The Spokesman-Review Food Drive. Place your donations of nonperishable food in the bags delivered with last Sunday’s newspaper and leave them next to your mailbox by 7 a.m. Saturday. Pickup will occur from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you did not receive a Food Drive bag, please drop off your donations at The Idaho Spokesman-Review office, 608 Northwest Blvd.; the Tidyman’s store in Post Falls; or Hayden City Hall.