Food Bank increases distribution while looking to future

North Valley Food Bank has a long history of providing for those who need help putting food on the table, but it is also looking toward the future for how it can provide even greater assistance.

To meet that goal, the food bank is implementing new programs including expanding its distribution hours and also has other projects on the horizon planned for next year.

“I want to max our capacity to serve,” says Jessy Lee, food bank executive director. “I want to make sure we are meeting the needs of the broader community and if we’re not then figure out how we do that.”

Distribution hours at the food bank beginning last week were extended to include Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. and also expanded an hour on Thursdays for distribution that day from noon to 3 p.m.

The food bank has distributed food on Thursdays since 1988, but during periods in the past distributions did occur sometimes two and three times per week.

The change, Lee says, recognizes that the community is ready for an expansion of hours and that those who work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. jobs may be missing out on the opportunity to use the food bank.

“Our community’s needs have changed a lot over the years,” Lee said. “Our team realizes that the community has a gap in food security services. Many families work until 5 p.m. and can’t manage to utilize the food bank.”

Currently, the food bank serves nearly 500 individuals per week during its two-hour distribution time frame.

Volunteers are always welcome at the food bank, and adding additional distribution hours would also create additional need for volunteers.

“We’re beyond excited for this expansion,” Lee said. “Not only will we be able to serve families who work during the day, we will also be able to accommodate volunteers in the afternoon and early evening.”

The food bank is in the planning stages of its next big change. By next spring, Lee hopes to have the food bank converted to a choice model pantry.

Currently, the clients who visit the food bank are provided with a box of food that is prepackaged by volunteers. Under a choice model, they would be able to shop at the pantry during the distribution hours.

“With a choice model pantry it gives them the ability to choose their own food — everybody has different food preferences and dietary needs,” Lee said. “This gives them the authority to choose their own food. It will also reduce waste because right now not choosing their own food may mean that there’s food they can’t use or don’t want.”

Lee says the choice model pantry is common and it’s an idea that North Valley Food Bank has been looking into for some time.

In order to accommodate the change, a portion of the food bank building will have to be remodeled opening up walls and installing store shelves and food coolers. The changes would create a larger waiting area inside the building because clients would spend more time at the food bank, and currently a lack of space causes folks to wait outside in the cold or heat depending on the season.

Lee says she is working on design concepts and plans to present ideas to the food bank’s board of directors this fall, and then once plans are solidified fundraising will begin for the construction.

This summer, the food bank partnered with the Whitefish School District and Farm Hands-Nourish the Flathead to provide free lunch to children in Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse, Martin City and Coram. The school district was already providing meals in Whitefish, so the program partners worked together to provide meals to the other communities.

Through the program, roughly 5,000 meals were served to students this summer.

Lee says the food bank found out about the gap in services and decided it was an area where it could provide service to those in need.

The food bank also recently became a meat processor for the Hunters Against Hunger program. Partnering with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Montana Food Bank network the food bank will get paid for processing donated game to be distributed to food pantries in the area.

“They were having a hard time finding a butcher who had the time to take on the meat processing,” Lee said. “We were already doing processing and now we are getting money for it.”

For those who are interested in volunteering, contact Kristie Lukes at 406-862-5863. North Valley Food Bank offers volunteer orientation the first Wednesday of each month at noon and 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.northvalleyfoodbank.org.