Moments of humanity part of job
Back in August, in the midst of those last glorious dog days of summer, I accepted the position of interim director of the Post Falls Food Bank.
The resignation of long-time director Sherry Wallis resulted in a search for a replacement, and the board of directors felt an interim director would allow them the ability to be thorough in its search while ensuring the organization was being managed on a day-to-day basis. We all agreed it would likely take a month or so to bring someone on board. Circumstances stretched that time frame out but the search was worth the wait — Leslie Orth will begin as the new executive director next week.
So here I am, my last week at the helm of a most extraordinary well-oiled machine with a single mission: To feed the hungry in our community. Decades ago I served on the first board of the fledgling food bank, when it was simply shelves in the basement of a church and our population was just over 5,000. Today the Post Falls Food Bank is a model of a community coming together to provide for our neighbors.
For nearly three months I’ve had a front row seat to witness the generosity and commitment of the volunteers who day in and day out roll up their sleeves in the warehouse, pantry and front office. Our grocery partners go above and beyond and local organizations, businesses and individuals are generous in large and small ways, all of which make a huge difference, all year around.
Before taking this position I didn’t realize one of the most amazing aspects of the Post Falls Food Bank — which operates in a building that’s paid for, with a refrigerated truck and van also owned outright — is that the organization receives no government funding. With grants, donors and volunteers, lives are changed every day, every week, every month of the year.
I’ve been blessed beyond what I ever expected to witness how people who are struggling, who have so little materially, exhibit the hope of better days to come while being grateful for the help given today. We’ve celebrated with clients who’ve landed a job, or whose health has improved or who say they look forward to the day that they, too, can give back what’s been provided to them.
What I refer to as “moments” have been humbling to experience. When we were closed for the day I was the only one there and answered the phone. A young woman wanted to know if we were still open. She sounded so discouraged when I said we’d be open again in the morning. I asked if she was nearby and she was so I said I’d wait for her.
She arrived with her pre-school age daughter in a car that had seen much better days. We filled a cart with groceries and as I walked out to help her put the bags in the trunk she said, “I’m so embarrassed to have to do this but we don’t have any food in the house.”
I told her not to be embarrassed, that the one and only reason we are here is to provide that lifeline. I told her that the one thing I know for sure is that life will get better, things will be good again and that the most important consideration right now is her little girl. I know she believed me. I know that it’s very hard to ask for and accept help. I’ve been where she is. But I also know that things do get better and life will be good.
To all of you who donate to food drives, write checks large and small, serve on the board and volunteer with humble hearts; you make a difference in a very real and tangible way to your fellow human beings. I will miss seeing everyone there on a daily basis but what I’m taking with me from this experience has changed me profoundly. Thank you everyone who has been so wonderful in the journey and wishing the new Post Falls Food Bank director many meaningful moments.
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Lake City High School student Oskar Owens landed the plum role in the iconic musical Grease: Danny, played in the movie and on Broadway by none other than John Travolta. Grease was Travolta’s Broadway debut when he was just 18 years old.
The LCHS production will open on Thursday, Nov. 5 and run for six performances over the first two weekends in November. The talented student actors have been rehearsing since school started in September and the excitement is building for opening night.
This week Oskar received a very special “break a leg” delivery via Ellen Travolta (who played a waitress in the 1978 movie that starred her baby brother John): A black and white glossy headshot of the original Danny Zuko, i.e. John Travolta, signed with a personal message to Oskar by the coolest greaser of all time.
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Places to go and things to do ... Thursday Heritage Health’s Toast and Taste at the Jacklin Arts & Culture Center to benefit the fund to help uninsured and underinsured Kootenai County residents. Tickets/info: 208-415-0292.
Lots of options for Halloween ...the Post Falls Lions Haunted House is open every night through Halloween at Fourth and Post, opens at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Findlay Auto Post Falls Community Trunk or Treat, admission a can of food for the food bank. Punkin chunkin, costume contest, games, hay rides, 5:30-8 p.m. Fall Festival at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Halloween from 5:30-8:30 p.m., hosted by Heart of the City Church. The 13th annual RLM Harvest Festival at the church on Cecil Road in Post Falls from 4-7 p.m. and also at the Coeur d’Alene campus 5-7 p.m, free for families.
And for those who haven’t voted in advance, Tuesday is election day. Exercise your civic duty and cast a ballot.
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Happy birthday today to Terri Gervais, Laura McNeil, Jenni Gibson, Jill Swoboda, Jonathan Mueller, Tracie Olin Smith, Kathleen Clancy, Heather Montee, Dale Fitch, Jamie Oliver and Ashley Gerzina (40!).
Tomorrow, Sandy Patano, Jerry Baltzell, Kara McCollum, Amanda Krier, Mary Ransdell, Dave Clark and Shawn Duncan are celebrating.
On Friday wish a happy birthday to Rainey Coffin, Lori Dahlke, John Kelly, Lori Jurado, Vivian Stadley, Brad Oliver, Kay Mills and Derek McGee.
Halloween birthdays with more treats than tricks for Kathy Prosser, RaeAnne Capaul, Krysta Huft, Amber Copeland, Tom Hasslinger, Rob Moser, Jabet Wheeler, Tyler Engelbrecht, Kevin Grady, Linda Haughton, Jaks Fowler and Susan Johnson.
On the first day of November, Randy Martens, Bernice Dymek and Pam Jank will put on their party hats.
Mike Miller, Charity Thompson and Kathleen Lazor share birthdays on Monday.
On Tuesday, Jill Jurvelin, Alex Capaul, Hara Allison, Karen Pearl, Patti Harris, Jerry Mason, Tim Wark, Darin Hanson and Kelly Tuntland will blow out their birthday candles.
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.