Give hunger the bird
Leslie Orth, director of the Post Falls Food Bank enjoys the festivities with her husband Rob, at Give Hunger the Bird in 2019, the last time the event was held. After canceling because of COVID-19 last year the event will be back in full swing this Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Leslie Orth
Guests browse some of the auction offerings at Give Hunger the Bird in 2018.
POST FALLS—The Post Falls Food Bank has gone from boats to jets for the annual “Give Hunger the Bird” fundraiser to be hosted by The StanCraft Jet Center this Saturday.
Originally founded 13 years ago by StanCraft Marine Center owner Robb Bloem, this is the one and only big event the food bank holds. It's what sustains operations throughout the year, said Leslie Orth, director.
Following cancellation of last year's event because of COVID, organizers are “really excited to get to do a party this year,” Orth said. Past events have raised about $100,000 and this one is gearing up to be equally as successful.
Bloem’s original idea was to hold a simple turkey drive. Filling a StanCraft boat to the brim with frozen turkeys was the goal, Orth said. And it was a success. Now the event has grown to an extravaganza of food, beverages, music and a plethora of amazing auction prizes.
Though not on the board for the food bank any longer, Bloem is still very involved in supporting the service.
“It will be foodie heaven,” Orth said.
With numerous vendors creating “small plates” that guests can sample as they roam the expansive jet center, “you will be stuffed at the end,” Orth said.
StanCraft jets and a helicopter will be on site for guests to peruse and use for photo opportunities. Music will be provided by board chair Eric Brock, vice president at Sysco, who was a DJ while in college.
The auction items are a big draw, Orth said, and a big part of the fundraising. Some of the items up for bid Saturday are: a private event hosting at Embers for a party of twenty, an afternoon of boating on Lake Coeur d’Alene complete with a private chef, prime-rib dinner and festive beverages, an in-house private chef event, a snow-blower, a lawn mower, a zip-lining adventure and many others.
The food bank serves about one hundred families every day. Open Monday through Friday they have about 2,300 families registered to the program, or about 8,000 individuals. They also provide food for about thirty other non-profit agencies throughout Kootenai County. Last year alone, over 400,000 pounds of food was donated to other nonprofits. About 150 school age children living in poverty are served weekly with the Weekend Backpack program as well.
Currently outgrowing the building they use, the food bank is in the process of looking for a new one. They are working with the senior center to try to merge into a larger space. “It’s a big project,” Orth said.
Tickets are available online for $40 at postfallsfoodbank.org or for $45 at the door, 3300 Aviation Way in Hayden. Event organizers can be reached at (208) 773-0139.
“The Post Falls Food Bank is working to ensure that every person in our region, event the most vulnerable has an opportunity to flourish,” Orth said.