Hunger pains

COEUR d’ALENE — When Leslie Orth looked out on the crowd of people at the Post Falls Food Bank on Tuesday, she saw a lot of heads.

“It’s pretty full,” she said.

Which was no surprise.

Orth, executive director, said about 100 people visit the food bank each week day. She believed Monday was the busiest day in the history of the food bank, with close to 150 people stopping in at the Third Street Market.

The food bank has been distributing around 65,000 pounds a month, also the highest in its history.

The food bank has traditionally seen many retirees coming through its doors, but lately, it’s younger families on limited income faced with paying bills or buying food.

“It's telling,” Orth said.

The Community Action Partnership food bank in Coeur d’Alene is also seeing more people.

“Last Tuesday was the biggest day I’ve ever seen around here,” said Darrell Rickard, program manager. “It was the busiest in six years."

He said lines stretched outside and down the building, and calls come in daily from those wanting to find out how they can get help.

 “If this is happening right now, I’m nervous for how the next couple of months will be like,” he said of the upcoming holiday season.

Both Orth and Rickard said they believe more people are turning to the food banks due to inflation and now with colder weather setting in, rising utility bills. And while the price of gasoline has come down lately, it’s still well above what it was a few years ago.

“Everybody tries their hardest to absorb it,” Rickard said. “But all those together, that’s a problem.”

Orth said some families are trying to get by on one income as one parent is staying home to care for the kids as affordable day care is difficult to find.

“That’s really hard,” she said.

A gift from Silverwood Theme Park will help food banks keep up with calls for help.

Silverwood recently donated $34,952 that was disbursed to food banks including Athol Food Bank, Post Falls Food Bank, Second Harvest in Spokane, Community Action Partnership in Coeur d’Alene and Bonner Community Food Bank.

Silverwood raised the money with a “Community Appreciation Weekend” food drive in September. Guests saved money when they purchased their admission online and Silverwood donated $4 per general admission ticket purchased to food banks.

“Silverwood is grateful for those in the community that came out and had fun at our park this September for a meaningful cause,” said Stephanie Sampson, Silverwood spokesperson. “With rising inflation, our local families need a helping hand, and we are so blessed to live in a community that helps when they can.”

Holly Hoagland from Second Harvest said that they will distribute more than 35 million pounds of food in 2023 in their service territory of about 51,000 square miles. 

She said people who used to receive supplemental help from food banks are now counting on it as their primary source for meals.

A recent Second Harvest mobile market in Sandpoint attracted more than 300 people.

“We’re hearing more and more from people in the community they are really struggling to keep up with inflation,” Hoaglund said.

A fundraiser, “Give Hunger the Bird,” is scheduled 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at StanCraft Jet Center, 3300 Aviation Way, Hayden, for the Post Falls Food Bank.

Tickets are $45 online, postfallsfoodbank.org, and $50 at the door. It includes auctions, prizes, music, appetizers, wine and beer.

The Post Falls Food Bank hopes to be in its new home at the 9,000-square-foot senior center, 1215 E. Third Ave., once renovations are complete there.

The move will more than double its current space.

StanCraft Construction is the contractor on the $1.2 million project.

Orth and Rickard said with their own bills to pay and more people needing assistance, the Silverwood donations will ease financial pressures.

“We’re still holding our own,” Rickard said.

“Our community is pretty amazing," Orth said. "People step up right and left."

   Silverwood Theme Park donates nearly $35,000 to local food banks. From left: Darrell Rickard, Community Action Partnership; Holly Hoagland, Second Harvest; Stephanie Sampson, Silverwood; Debbie Love, Bonner Community Food Bank; Leslie Orth, Post Falls Food Bank; and Conor Ellert, Second Harvest.