Hayden Cinema pitches in to help food bank

HAYDEN - A recent distress signal sent by the Food Bank at the Community Action Partnership has been answered by organizations and individuals in the community, now including the Hayden Discount Cinema.

Owner Mike Lehosit has offered to host a 'food raiser,' showing the newly released "Veggie Tales" film, "Celery Night Fever," for canned donations. The 45-minute movie will play at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"I saw the article on the front page of The Coeur d'Alene Press the other day about the food bank being low, so I thought, 'Hey, I want to help out,'" Lehosit said. "We're hoping we can get a lot of families involved to help out the food bank."

A July 31 Press article informing readers of the bare shelves in the food bank sparked community action, including an emergency food drive conducted by North Idaho College's Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, during Art on the Green. The fast response was led by PTK fellowship officer Leasa Harmon.

"Our response to the article has again brought out the best in our community," food bank manager Carolyn Shewfelt told the Press. "A beautiful soul set up a table at the Art on the Green."

Shewfelt said Lehosit's generosity is appreciated and special because although he is new to the area, he is willing to help out his community. She also said the "Veggie Tales" food raiser is awesome because it will give kids something to do during the day.

"It's just amazing how people come together with great ideas and think outside the box," she said.

Harmon said PTK will be representing the food bank in its efforts to generate support and activities to provide for the event, which may include a jump house, free toothbrushes, balloons and ice cream coupons. The group is doing it as a service project and is in the process of organizing the activities.

"Anything that we can come up with to make it a fun family event to support the food bank," Harmon said.

Shewfelt said the food bank is actively looking for locations in Coeur d'Alene that will provide drop-off spots for donations during evenings and weekends to make donating more accessible and convenient for people in the community who work and want to help.

"If everybody in our community donated one can of a month, we wouldn't have a lack of food," she said.

Info: 664-8757.