Residents' generosity helping food bank survive

This letter of thanks goes out to all of the generous people who contributed money and/or non-perishable food to the Bonner Community Food Bank for the past year, 2008.

The total amount collected during this year’s food drives, personal family donations, and business donations of food completely exceeded expectations. For 2008, $488,193 value of food was donated to the food bank by the grocery stores in Sandpoint and Priest River.

With expenses going up for both our clients and the food bank, it is easy to realize the importance of monetary donations also to keep the food bank running smoothly.

Also, the long list of donations from the other many area businesses, schools and non-profit groups and organizations will not be forgotten for their generosity towards the area’s low income work force families.

n To the board of directors who guide the staff and volunteers in the work that continues on a day-to-day basis.

n  To the volunteers that work everyday to make the food bank able to continue the services we provide, Thank you. 

n To the volunteers who held fundraisers for the food bank this past year — the golf tournament at Stoneridge and the Fall Ball at the Ponderay Event Center — thank you, and thanks to everyone who donated time, money and articles for  the auction. 

n A big thank you for this year’s success goes to the much needed and appreciated newspaper articles from the Daily Bee and local radio stations.

n To all the volunteers that have done work on/in the Food Bank Of one kind or another including the Sandpoint Police Department at Thanksgiving, thank you.

Added to these numbers are the many families that depend on the Food Bank at Thanksgiving time, approximately 700 Bonner County families received a turkey and food for a good holiday meal in 2008.

And finally, thank you to all the generous people who dropped off thousands of pounds of non-perishable food in the food bin located at Yokes supermarket this past year.  If I have left anyone out, please forgive me, the food bank needs all  Bonner County residents to continue operating.

For any questions about the Bonner Community Food Bank and how it operates, how you can get help or would you would like to volunteer, please call (208)263-food (263-3663).

n Alice Wallace is the executive director of the Bonner Community Food Bank.