Food bank lends helping hand

For most of us the holidays mean celebrating with friends and families, eating good food and giving out presents.

Unfortunately, not everyone in our community has that luxury.

“People run into too much month for their pay check,” Deb Warren of the Plains Community Food Bank said. “We don’t think our food in any way gets them through a whole year.”

According to Shannon Allen food bank recipients get about a three days supply of food for each month. Of course, extenuating circumstances like five-week months, and recent changes in employment also factor in.

Allen said that on average, the food bank contributes to about 140 families a month. Not only have the number of families increased with the economic down-turn, but the size, as young adults are forced to move back in with their parents in a harsh job-market.

Not only has demand increased, as it does every year at this time, but the food banks supplies are diminishing. The Food Bank Network of Missoula, one of the Plains Community Food Bank’s biggest contributers has been forced to cut back its donations. Rather than receiving a shipment every four weeks, they now have to make that food stretch to six weeks.

Even after the donations of community members and The Food Bank Network of Missoula, the food bank in town still purchases between 1100 and 1300 dollars worth of food each month in order to meet increasing demands.

“We’re a small community and we’re very blessed here,” Warren said. “There’s really no reason why anyone in our community should go without.”

The food bank accepts donations of either food or cash and can always use volunteer staff as the charity is entirely run by volunteers and although there are some very faithful regulars that come, everyone can sometimes use a break.

Warren believes there are even benefits to helping the food bank beyond simply serving others.

“Things in life can be very stressful and then I go work at the food bank and I realize I don’t have any room to complain,” she said. “I have nothing to be stressed out about. I have food in my cupboard to feed my family and these people don’t.”

Not only can the food bank take non-perishables, like bread, pasta, peanut butter or canned foods, but even milk, eggs or cheese can be stored at the facility. In fact, such foods are given away much too quickly to spoil.

Hunters will even donate a portion of their recently harvested deer or elk, which many elderly food bank users prefer because it’s low in cholesterol and saturated fat.

“I’m passionate about it because I’ve seen a definite need in our community,” Warren said.

Warren added that although there are a “million and one excuses” not to help out, but she stays involved because of the positive effect she’s seen the food bank have on area children.

“When you see the kids and you see their face when you give them a box of candy or something just to make something a little bit special for them that day. It’s like yeah, mom and dad might have issues, but the one’s paying for it are the kids,” she said.