NIBCA holds first of three free food distributions

POST FALLS — Jami Reed was nearly moved to tears when she talked about what Friday’s food giveaway outside the Post Falls Library meant to her and her family.

“It’s been really rough and I really appreciate it,” she said as she sat in the driver's seat of her car.

Reed was one of about 200 who visited the two-hour distribution sponsored by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association.

She said she recently had to give up her job and with children at home, just getting by has been difficult. So receiving milk, cheese, butter, chicken, beef, fruit and vegetables, and Cyrus O’Leary’s pies, was a godsend.

“It’s been rough through the quarantine. This means a whole lot,” she said, shouting thank you to the group of about 25 volunteers as she drove away.

“Have a good day,” she said.

Leslie Streeter, NIBCA executive officer, said that during a board meeting last month, the discussion turned to ways of giving back to the community and helping those who are less fortunate.

“In about 10 minutes we had $6,000 raised from our board members,” she said.

That money will fund three Second Harvest Food free food distribution events. The first was Friday, in partnership with the Community Library Network.

Next will be April 29 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, followed by one on May 7 at 8385 N. Government Way in Hayden, again in partnership with the Community Library Network.

Streeter spoke to one woman at the giveaway who told her the house she was living in had been sold, so she had to move out and was homeless.

“So this food was coming in very handy for her,” Streeter said.

Charlotte Robertson-Linesand, who is with the Community Library Network, was one of the volunteers on Friday. She said she sees a lot of people in need and likes doing what she can for others.

“I enjoy doing it,” she said after she carried four pies to a vehicle and passed them through the window to the grateful driver. “It’s very exciting, very rewarding.”