Area firefighters hold food drive

SANDPOINT —This Saturday promises to be a big one for young and old alike, thanks to the local firefighters.

Once again, the crew is gearing up to hold a food drive at Super 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Throughout the day, they’ll be collecting nonperishable goods and cash donations for Bonner Community Food Center. The event will also include a specially-designed obstacle course that will put young visitors in a firefighter’s shoes.  

“What we’re trying to do is beat what we did last year,” firefighter Travis Tyler said.

During the winter of 2011, emergency personnel hosted a similar food drive. As a result, they scored 700 pounds of food for the food bank plus an additional $700 in donations. Never a bunch to accept a good thing and not improve on it, Tyler said he and his colleagues aim to raise the bar, only to top it again later.

“We’ll hopefully set a new record, and then in November, we’re going to try and beat that one,” he said.

And they’ll come bearing gifts. In addition to the full array of gear and equipment, the fire fighters will arrive with the ladder engine plus a brand new fire truck purchased with grant money last year.

One big draw of the day — at least for the kids — will be an obstacle course designed to test the skills essential to every firefighter. The youngsters will crawl through a tunnel, climb a small ladder bearing a length of water hose, and try to hit a bell suspended from the fire engine ladder with an accurate blast of water. Participants will also have a partner that they can rely on for assistance and safety, just like in a real firefighting situation.

As always, the local fire departments are grateful to the Super 1 staff for all their accommodations and help during the organizational phase of the food drive.

“These guys are really bending over backward and working their butts off trying to help us” Tyler said.

All the effort is worth it for such a good cause. Tyler said many people don’t understand how essential the food bank is for the community. In fact, around 3,000 county residents — almost 10 percent of the total population — regularly rely on the nonprofit’s services to supplement their food intake.

“If we can help add some nutrition to a child’s meals or help a family fill their table, this will all be worth it,” Tyler said.