Priest Lake Food Bank

BY Nick Ivie

THE BEACON

PRIEST LAKE – The Priest Lake Food Bank provides a vital resource for many families in need, relying on a generous cast of volunteers and community donors to spread the giving spirit and ensure that none of their neighbors ever go hungry.

As demand increases and growing pains from shared space are felt, the food bank now looks to meet the challenges by branching out. But getting them into a new building will take much larger donations than a few old cans in the back of the pantry.

The food bank continues to operate out of the Lamb of God Lutheran Church on the south end of Idaho's crown jewel and now shares space with the Priest Lake Thrift Shoppe. They are outgrowing the current location, and with generous contributions from the community, they were able to purchase a lot to construct a new building that will house the food bank. To construct a new building, they will undoubtedly need the community's help with funding.

Despite being in the same location, the food bank has seen a lot of changes and growth since its humble beginnings. The idea of a food bank came from members of the Lamb of God Lutheran Church, who leaned on a portion of their mission statement that refers to meeting human needs.

Their mission is to "provide high-quality food to the Priest Lake area residents whose food budgets may not sustain adequate nutrition." This is achieved by sourcing, safely managing, storing, and distributing quality food products to those in the Priest Lake area who qualify under the guidelines established by the government and nonprofit organizations that offer free and discounted food.

While the number of patrons and family members varies with the season, on average, 40-50 patrons—about 180-220 people—visit the food bank twice per month. Many patrons are retired and living on a fixed income or are not able to work.

"Our volunteers are passionate about what they do," the food bank said. "This is exemplified by the fact that many have been serving for more than ten years."

Eating certainly falls under a basic human need, and from that belief, the food bank was born. With limited donations, the first few food bank recipients received less than a bag of groceries. As the food bank was able to source more donations, the sacks became fuller, and the number of people receiving them increased. Local businesses and residents donated used refrigerators and freezers to prevent food spoilage.

The Priest Lake Food Bank has also grown in structure. It now has a board of directors, job descriptions for board members, has become a nonprofit corporation, and is working on bylaws and upgrades to its accounting system.

They now have four freezers, three refrigerators, and their own truck and trailer for transport. Modifications have also been made to the facility, including constructing a covered porch for the safety and benefit of those unloading products and patrons visiting during inclement weather.

Although the food bank has no payroll or rent costs, it still incurs considerable expenses. These include utilities, truck and trailer operation and maintenance, equipment, and food products purchased for distribution.

The USDA and Second Harvest, primary sources for free and discounted food, audit the food bank operations annually, and all reports have been positive. Many volunteers have also obtained food handler certification as part of their determination to provide quality and safe food products.

And while the food bank is not run by the church, the church has generously allowed the food bank to use their space at no cost.

The food bank is staffed by volunteers who gather the food and serve the patrons, using their own vehicles to pick up and deliver goods to those who cannot do so. They not only acquire and distribute food but also write grants and conduct fundraisers in support of the food bank’s mission statement.

The Priest Lake Food Bank is located at 26506 Hwy. 57, or about milepost 26. It is open to patrons on the first and third Tuesday of each month from noon to 3 p.m.

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Checks can be dropped off or mailed to:

Priest Lake Food Bank 151 Pettit LanePriest Lake, Idaho, 83856