Help, compassion offered at PF Food Bank

The Post Falls Food Bank is closed for the day but that doesn’t stop volunteer Elaine Thie.

A man and his two daughters stop by to get warm coats and Thie is there to offer assistance.

Another man, who had recently been laid off, desperately needs groceries for his family and again Thie is there to assist.

Thie exemplifies the nonprofit food bank’s mission – to help the needy free of charge and in a spirit of respect and compassion.

Thie has been on the board of directors since 1997 and treasurer since 2005.

“We help people in need and in emergencies, who are out of work, underemployed, trying to live on inadequate or fixed incomes who qualify under the federal poverty guidelines,” says Thie.

Of the 23,000 people in Post Falls, the food bank in 2005 served food baskets to 2,806 families totaling 7,882 individuals, which equates to roughly one-third of the city’s population, Thie says.

She says 43 percent of the adults served are senior citizens; 47 percent are children; and that the number of families served increased 18 percent from 2004 with 85 percent of those people renewals from the previous year. The food bank also delivers food to approximately 20 homebound seniors.

Thie is sending out early requests for Thanksgiving turkeys this year.

“The requests for Thanksgiving food have already begun, and we can use donations of frozen turkeys and other Thanksgiving food items,” she says.

Last year 700 holiday food baskets were distributed over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Super 1 Foods helps by providing $5,000 worth of groceries.

The food bank operates a Food Surplus Recovery Program – collecting day-old bread, fruit, vegetables, and other surplus items from 15 major grocery chains in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Liberty Lake, Spokane Valley and Spokane.

The food is picked up every day by a team of five volunteer drivers using the food bank’s van and their own trucks. The food bank supplies local food kitchens, shelters, children’s agencies and special school programs with surplus bread, produce and dairy products as they are available. Second Harvest and SYSCO assist in the program.

The food bank also collaborates with other service agencies to assist clients beyond their food needs.

“We connect and refer our clients to other agencies that provide specialized services,” says Thie. Requests range from health needs, to shelter, gasoline vouchers, home repairs, or a myriad of other emergency requests.

Other program services include distribution of school supplies and clothing for Kootenai County’s needy children including hats, gloves, boots and socks; coats for children and adults; and blankets and sweaters for seniors.

“We depend heavily on the continuing support of Friends of the Food Bank, Food Bank Heroes and Food Bank Champions,” says Thie.

Friends are those individuals and businesses who have contributed up to $500 in cash or in-kind. Heroes are people and businesses who donate between $500 and $1,000. Champions are those who donate $1,000 or more.

The Post Falls Food Bank is a United Way agency and currently has only one paid employee – manager Cathy Larson.

Although the food bank was in financial straits just one year ago, Thie says the future looks bright.

“Thanks to our generous community we are in the process of purchasing our building and we are here to stay,” she says.