Flathead Food Bank ramps up for 'Stuff the Bus' drive
Flathead Food Bank has teamed up with local food retailers for its “Stuff The Bus” Holiday Food Drive featuring the food bank’s mobile food pantry bus.
In 2015, 10,461 pounds of food was collected during the drive. This year’s goal is to collect more than 20,000 pounds of holiday food items, including 2,000 turkeys.
The bus will be parked outside local grocery stores in Kalispell from noon to 6 p.m. to accept community donations according to the following schedule:
Friday, Nov. 4 — Albertsons
Saturday, Nov. 5 — Super One
Friday, Nov. 11 — Super One
Saturday, Nov. 12 — Walmart
Friday, Nov. 18 — Smith’s
Saturday, Nov. 19 — Natural Grocers
Donations can also be dropped off at Flathead Food Bank Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.; Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to noon.
The most needed items requested include turkeys, sweet potatoes, clear Jell-O, olives, gravy, pumpkin, hot chocolate, chicken broth and evaporated milk. All food products will be gladly accepted.
Over the past years, thousands of people in Northwest Montana have faced a bleak holiday season — individuals, families and senior citizens who found themselves without jobs, without income, without homes and without food. For many, the holiday season is difficult to bare, as it becomes even more challenging for them to meet the most basic needs.
According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), one in five households with children (19.2 percent) did not have enough funds to purchase food last year.
“America has the resources to eliminate hunger for all of its citizens, regardless of age or family configuration,” noted FRAC’s report. “The cost of not doing so — in terms of damage to health, education, early childhood development, and productivity — is too high.”
If you cannot make a food donation, consider a financial contribution to the Flathead Food Bank’s “Stuff The Bus” Holiday Food Drive, and food will be purchased. Send checks to Flathead Food Bank, 1203 U.S. 2 West, Suite 2, Kalispell, MT 59901.
The “Stuff The Bus” Holiday Food Drive will help to provide the food for holiday meal distribution to local families at Thanksgiving and Christmas and help to stock the shelves at the Food Bank over the holidays.
In 2015, 1,491 families were given groceries to make Thanksgiving and/or Christmas meals. 2016, it is projected to exceed 1,700 families.
Flathead Food Bank is always looking for volunteers for the food bank and Second Helpings Thrift Store (one time or on a regular basis). Volunteering is done in two-hour shifts: noon to 2 p.m., 2 to 4 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m.
Volunteer hours served equaled 12 full-time staff in 2015, and food donations equaled 1,506,368 pounds. To get signed up, call 752-3663.