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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Food banks’ donations hold

Officials grateful for unflagging support

Mary Jane Honegger Correspondent

Despite the eroding economy, food banks in Athol, Spirit Lake and Rathdrum say donations are holding steady and they believe they have the resources to meet the needs of the communities they serve during the upcoming holiday season.

“I’ve been amazed,” said Sharon Dillon, manager of Rathdrum’s Food Bank and Thrift Store. “I thought there would be a lot more need this Thanksgiving, but so far it’s normal. We have been receiving donations from individuals – people I’ve never heard of before,” she said. “Even in this economy, they are still being extremely generous.” Athol and Spirit Lake food bank managers agreed.

In addition to individuals, Dillon says she counts on the entire community for support. Churches, schools, Scouts and the local grocery stores help keep the shelves stocked. Many of the schools hold food drives – some at the beginning of the school year and a couple near Valentine’s Day. “It all helps,” she said.

During the holidays, each of the food banks focuses on providing holiday dinners to those they serve. They hand out turkey certificates and provide groceries for both Thanksgiving and Christmas to those who sign up to participate. Dillon counts on Christmas for All, a regional Christmas fund drive, to help purchase Christmas turkey certificates and other supplies needed for holiday meals. She also counts on some in the community, like Rathdrum’s Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, to supply eight to 10 Christmas food baskets for needy families.

Each of the three food banks receives help from outside their local communities as well. According to Dillon they order food from Second Harvest of Spokane once a month. Some of the food is delivered free, while a few items require minor payment. They also receive USDA commodities through the Kootenai County Food Bank Clearing House. “The food we receive varies month to month,” Dillon said. “Most recently we received pinto beans, rice and fruit cocktail.”

Rathdrum’s food bank serves about 100 families each month. Dillon has noticed there are more singles requesting help this year, and said most of those seeking help primarily have severe health problems. “Most are unable to work and often have small children,” she said. “Many have lost jobs and some have been evicted from their homes.”

Athol’s city clerk and food bank manager Charlotte Hooper said she counts on faith this time of year. “We really fill Thanksgiving needs on faith,” she said. “We give the Thanksgiving certificates and count on receiving enough donations to cover that and Christmas as well. We just trust that we can meet the needs in the future.”

The ABC Food Bank in Athol serves the communities of Athol, Bayview, Clagstone and Careywood. The food bank is expecting to serve more than 250 families during the upcoming months. “That’s 500 individuals,” said Hooper. Like Dillon, she is amazed by the amount of community support despite bleak economic news. “Donations are down just a little, but people are so generous and good-hearted,” she said warmly. “We are encouraged.

“In fact, I felt like I was living in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ last year when all our Christmas gifts were stolen,” she said, referring to a food bank break-in just before Christmas last year. “Everyone just took it personally. They didn’t stay home, they came here. Actually, I had as many coming in to help as were receiving help.”

Hooper has noticed she has more seniors requesting help this year, but like Dillon she is counting on local food drives, local businesses and groups like the American Legion to help meet the requests for assistance. She is especially thankful to Christmas for All. “We couldn’t give the boxes of food we do without their help,” she said.

Spirit Lake’s Food Bank is the only one that has seen a big rise in the number of those seeking help. Last month it served 112 families, up from about 15; and like Athol, have noticed a rise in the number of seniors.

Spokesperson Becky Gaddum said the rise is because the Spirit Lake Food Bank serves a large area, including the HooDoo Valley and Blanchard up in Bonner County. It provides services outside the designated area due to the hardship for some to drive to the food bank in Sandpoint.

Again, like the other communities, Spirit Lake Food Bank counts on area churches, school food drives, businesses and individuals to help meet their needs. According to Gaddum, the food bank is especially grateful to the Eagles in Hayden Lake. “They send a check at Thanksgiving, and another at Christmas to help with the turkeys and Christmas boxes.”

Most of the food bank’s 13 volunteers have been there for eight years or more, and get to know the clientele well, Gaddum said. “We try to accommodate the individual and meet their needs. We make up their holiday boxes to meet special needs – including two homeless people who have no water.”