A movable feast

COEUR d'ALENE - Pam Downs gets by with a little help from her friends.

Which is good for the hungry around here.

"I'm kind of running my little food bank out of the back of my Tahoe," she said, smiling.

Each Wednesday morning, for the past year, Downs parks her SUV outside the Community Action Partnership Food Bank, then packs it with boxes and cans and bags of crackers, tuna, chili - nonperishables they can easily turn into meals.

From there, with another volunteer, Bryan, she drives to sites that serve the homeless - Fresh Start at 16th and Sherman, and the St. Vincent de Paul HELP center on Harrison.

"There's no bus stop that comes out there, so we bring the food to them," she said.

Individuals receive enough food to sustain them for a few days.

When the food bank recently ran short and didn't have much for Downs to deliver, the Post Falls woman asked her friends in Bible study for food donations.

"I'd taken everything I had to give to them," she said.

Her friends came through and she made her usual rounds.

Downs is hoping others will contribute so she and her Tahoe can stay on the road to feed the poor and hungry.

"They told me they're probably going to have to discontinue this year, so I'm hoping to rally some support," she said.

Carolyn Shewfelt, food bank manager, said Wednesday the program will not be shut down.

"I'm very passionate about that program," she said.

Shewfelt said she appreciates all that Downs does to get food to those who need it most.

"She has a heart for this. She genuinely loves these people," Shewfelt said. "I can't say enough good things about her."

Here's how to help.

Bring a food donation to the food bank, 4144 W. Industrial Loop, and say it's for the homeless food run operated by Downs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays.

Downs said she has come to know many of those who count on the food she delivers.

"So I would never let them down, not as long as I've got any food at all to give," she said.