Coeur d'Alene food bank sees sharp rise in demand

The client at the Community Action Partnership food bank asks if there is any beef available on a Friday morning. 

Volunteer Katherine Phillips shakes her head, no. She then opens a refrigerator door and pulls out a package of pork cuts. 

“Do you want that?” she asks. 

The woman turns to the man standing nearby, they confer, and she nods yes. 

“We’d love more if you have it,” she says. 

Darrell Rickard, food bank program manager, smiles in approval. 

“Probably better for you,” he says, chuckling. “I don’t know if they taste better.” 

After a quiet morning, a steady stream of people filters through the door at the food bank in Coeur d’Alene Industrial Park. Nearly 20 shelves filled with bread products await, as do refrigerated salads, sandwiches and pasta in plastic containers. 

On the glass door is a sign that reads, “Please, only what you can use in a week.” 

There is a reason for it.

Rickard said while it seems there is a lot of food, it will go quickly and people will come in as long as the doors are open. 

“We will probably use everything that’s out there right now,” he said. “It's amazing how we can have this whole place full and it will be gone. The last piece will be done.” 

But not surprising.

Rickard said the food bank is seeing record numbers turning out for assistance, with up to 300 in a single day. 

In January 2024, it received 1,100 clients. In January this year, it was about 1,500, an increase of nearly 40%. 

“It’s significant,” Rickard said. “It definitely continues to climb.” 

In his seven years as manager, Rickard said, it’s the most people he’s seen coming to the food bank.  

“Very much the highest,” he said. “And very scary.” 

Stores and individuals donate to the food bank, and food drives like that of the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department in December help. Government-funded food remains a staple. So far, it's meeting demand, but come spring, supplies can run low.

"There are days our shelves will be completely, totally empty,” Rickard said. 

Rising rent and inflation that’s driven up grocery prices are primarily to blame, he said, as many people are having a tougher time paying bills and having enough money for food. 

One woman who came in Friday said the food bank is a lifesaver.  

“I don’t know what we would do without it,” said the woman, who declined to give her name. “We do OK with a lot of basics, but there’s not money left for anything else.” 

She said she visits the food bank about twice a month. Friday, she received a large package of chicken, which she said will go a long way. 

“I can make four or five meals out of that,” she said. “It really saves us a lot of money.” 

The woman turned to leave, stopped, and added with a smile, “It was nice when they had eggs.” 

Phillips, a nine-year volunteer, said it’s busier these days than she’s ever seen. 

“It gets busier all the time,” she said. 

Rickard said many of their clients are seniors on fixed incomes, but one thing he’s noticed is that more people with jobs, more working families, are visiting the food bank. 

“They’re just trying to make ends meet,” he said. 

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, there were 18 million U.S. households that were food insecure at some time during 2023. 

“These households were uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food,” the USDA report said. 

Household food insecurity affected 6.5 million households with children in 2023, according to the report.  

“In some of these food-insecure households only adults were food insecure, while in other households children also experienced food insecurity,” the report said. 

The CAP food bank distributed more than 1.3 million pounds of food last year and makes it as easy as it can. Once they have a person’s information on file, a client just fills out a few lines on a sheet of paper each time they visit.

A family of three can earn up to $4,300 a month and receive assistance. If they earn more, Rickard said, they will not let them go hungry. 

“We don’t turn anyone away,” he said. 

Volunteer Shayla Grafe greets guests with a big smile and easily strikes up conversations. She wants everyone to feel welcome.

“I love it,” she said. 

    Visitors to the Community Action Partnership food bank in Coeur d'Alene look through the refrigerators offerings on Friday.