In a Nutshell: Remembering our founder June through shared food and community

Our beloved founder June Munski-Feenan always had a hot pot of delicious soup on the stove at North Valley Food Bank (NVFB). After the end of a volunteer shift, everyone sat together to share stories while enjoying hearty stews during the cold winter months and colorful vegetable soups during breezy summer evenings. June started NVFB, then called Whitefish Food Bank, in her garage in the late 70s. June deeply cared for our community. She welcomed everyone. She ensured that all neighbors had a seat at the table.

Sharing food is an essential part of our human existence. We bring our families together at the dinner table, we catch up with friends over brunch, we plan elaborate holiday meals and we commemorate special life events with a feast. A 2017 study from the University of Oxford showed that people who eat socially are happier, more satisfied, more engaging and more trusting. Our social life heavily impacts our well-being and happiness. Building connections triggers endorphins. Sharing a meal helps us slow down and have meaningful conversations. Further, preparing a meal for someone else shows that we care.

Last summer, I learned first-hand how important the gift of food can be when my NVFB team organized a meal train for our family shortly after welcoming our newborn. Every night, we received a home-cooked dinner made by our team, board and volunteers. With each meal, we also received a story of how the recipe had provided comfort to the giver in the past. Through full bellies and stories, food connected us to our community during the challenging and isolating days of new parenthood. While I missed my family overseas and pancakes with apple sauce out of my grandmother’s kitchen, our community showed up and provided the most meaningful gift.

How often have you shared a meal with your neighbors over the last few years? Have you cooked your favorite family recipe for someone recently? Have you made new friends over a meal this summer?

At NVFB, strengthening communities is as essential to our mission as building food security. Food provides ample opportunities to break barriers and provides conversation starters. Every year, we honor June’s legacy at our Forever June Celebration. At the event, we bring people from different paths of life together to learn about the richness of our community.

This Friday, June 23, from 5 to 8 p.m., we invite you to share delicious, free tacos made by The Good Taco, listen to the tunes of Radio Ranch, and enjoy a cold beer from Backslope Brewing. At the event, you can tour NVFB while your little ones have fun with face painting and other kids’ activities. To pay it forward, we are hosting a kitchen utensil drive during the event. For each new item you bring, you will receive a raffle entry for amazing goods and services generously donated by local vendors. Join us at NVFB, 251 Flathead Avenue, to share dinner and a fun evening with old and new friends!

Sophie Albert is the executive director of North Valley Food Bank. Albert provides insights into happenings at the food bank, rural food insecurity, stories of the community and more in the monthly Whitefish Pilot column titled, In a Nutshell.