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Food Bank Mission:
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The Post Falls Food Bank helps needy people in the Post Falls area, especially those in emergency situations, with food, referrals to other helping agencies and assistance with personal budgeting needs if requested. This is done free of charge, and in a spirit of respect and compassion for those helped.
We help people in need and in emergencies who qualify under the Federal poverty guidelines. They are people living in the Post Falls area, who are out of work, underemployed, trying to live on inadequate or fixed incomes.
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| Overview |
- The population of Post Falls grew 5.5% in 2006 from 23,162 to 24,427.
- In 2005 we served food baskets to 2,806 families, totaling 7,882 individuals.
- In 2006 food baskets were served to 4,378 families, totaling 10,211 individuals.
- The number of individuals served in 2006 represents 41% of the population of Post Falls, an increase of 7% from 2005, just slightly ahead of the increase in population.
- Our food surplus recovery program provided weekly food supplementation totaling 794,798 pounds.
- 43% of the adults we serve are senior citizens.
- 49% of the total customers we serve are children.
In addition to our client base we supply local food kitchens, shelters, children's agencies and special school programs with surplus bread, produce and dairy products as they are available.
We collaborate with other service agencies to assist our clients beyond their food needs. These include but are not limited to the Homeless Coalition, St. Vincent de Paul, The Women's Center, Panhandle Health District, Health & Welfare, Senior Centers, Community Action Partners, and local churches. We also share surplus food collected from grocery stores with the local soup kitchens, shelters, The Gleaners and Head Start.
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Program Goals
What specific goals do we plan to achieve in 2007?
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- Continue service to the needy in Post Falls with quality food and emergency assistance.
- Build partnerships with the community.
- Create greater awareness of our services and volunteer opportunities
- Continue our outreach with area service groups to feed the hungry.
- Encourage our youth to participate in community service.
- Develop new sources of sustaining income.
- Improve our vehicle fleet for fuel and surplus food recovery.
- Build a strong Board of Directors.
- Begin a program of building improvements to reduce energy costs and increase efficiency.
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| Program Services |
The Post Falls Food Bank offers food to the needy of our community as part of 10 major programs. When we see a need we strive to fill it. Through collaboration and community efforts we have created these services:
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Food Services
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Food boxes are available once a month to seniors and disabled people. Needy families receive a Food Box every 60 days. Everyone receives food weekly from the Food Surplus Recovery program. The Food Bank is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. We deliver food to approximately 20 homebound seniors.
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Food Surplus Recovery
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Day old bread, fruit, vegetables, and other surplus food-stuffs are recovered from 15 major grocery chains in Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Liberty Lake, Spokane Valley and Spokane. This food is picked up seven days per week by a team of 5 drivers using the PFFB Van and private pickup trucks. Second Harvest and SYSCO assist in this program.
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We share our Food Surplus Recovery with:
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The American Legion Kitchen, Anchor House, Athol ABC Food Bank, church soup kitchens all over the county, Cataldo Light House Mission Ranch, CdA Food Bank, CdA Head Start, Cherished Ones Ministries, Children's Village, Gleaners, Post Falls Head Start, Post Falls Senior Center, Rathdrum Food Bank, Real Life Food Pantry, Single Mom's in Distress, Spirit Lake Food Bank, St. Vincent's Shelter System, the Women's Center and every viable request that comes
our way.
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Additional Programs:
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In addition to food service we offer many other programs that help the needy stretch their budget and fill in the gaps. Seeds for Gardening - In March, we distribute seeds to anyone who would like to plant a garden. Referrals - We connect and refer our clients with other agencies that provide specialized services such as health needs, shelter, gasoline vouchers, home repairs, or myriad other emergency requests that arise. Vouchers
- The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul provide us with vouchers for bus fare, special foods, and medicines, which we distribute as needed. School Supplies- Our Back to School program is for all needy kids in Kootenai County. Wells Fargo Bank and specific grants and donations subsidize this program. Coats for Kids - October through March of each year, in collaboration with KXLY- Channel 4, we are an official distribution point for Coats for Kids. Hats, Gloves, Boots & Socks -We distribute
hats and gloves supplied by the Lions Club and the Knit Wits. Now in its sixth year, Windermere Realty provides vouchers for boots. Senior Blankets - seniors receive a quilt in their Thanksgiving baskets as the cold weather sets in. St. George's Church, the Knit Wits, and the community provide the blankets and quilts. Holidays - Special foods are provided for Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. A combined total of 831 holiday baskets were distributed over the two holidays. Century Publishing
granted $500 towards this program.
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2006 Cumulative Results
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- The Food Service programs provided Food Baskets for 4.378 individual families numbering 10,211 people.
- Food surplus was provided weekly for an average of 4,500 individuals per month.
- Coats for Kids distributed more than 3,000 items. Coats were distributed by the end of March.
- Hats and Gloves were provided for 300 families.
- Windermere Realty donated Boots vouchers for 30 people. Wal-Mart supplied socks.
- 1,100 seniors received a quilt, blanket, sweater or sweats in their Thanksgiving Basket.
- 563 families received a Thanksgiving and 268 received a Christmas Basket. We fill any gap that may occur with "Christmas for All."
- Toys and Christmas gifts were provided by Super 1, PF Fire Dept. and donations, and were distributed through the food bank.
- School supplies were given to 1,100 children.
- Our Referral Services assisted more than 250 families in need. including assistance for gas, bus fare, special foods and medicines and lodging through our voucher partnerships.
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Volunteer Activities
Without the efforts of our Volunteers, there would be no Post Falls Food Bank
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- Volunteers help staff the food bank, events and fundraisers.
- 2,287 adults, teens, families, and community groups provided 11,584 man-hours of volunteer services in 2006.
- The 1st Annual Community Food Drive began in 2006. Eighteen local businesses, spear-headed by Century Publishing, produced a day-long event involving 75 volunteers.
- Their efforts resulted in 25,867 pounds of food and $7,757 in cash donations.
- Plans are already underway for the next Community Food Drive on April 17, 2007.
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Our Objectives for 2007
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Continue service to the needy in Post Falls. The food bank client base grows in direct proportion to the growth of Post Falls. Our approach to the community must be one of communication and cooperation. Customer service policies and volunteer standards and training have been established for better client service.
Build partnerships with the community. Generate ongoing relationships with corporations growing out of the Community Food Drive, the Chamber of Commerce and the service clubs in the area.
Maintain our connections with the churches in the area. Build reciprocal agreements with the outreach groups we now serve.
Create greater awareness of our services and volunteer opportunities. Our volunteers are the backbone of the food bank. Publicize the work our volunteers do in the media and at public and group meetings. (Civic clubs, schools, corporate presentations.) Recruit volunteers with ads and job descriptions in the media. Reward our volunteers with recognitions.
Continue our outreach with area service groups to feed the hungry. We respond to the needs of our neighbors through this program. As new groups develop we continue to offer our surplus. Develop mutual record tracking of the numbers being served.
Encourage our youth to participate in community service. Coordinate with all area schools and churches to encourage their youth to participate in food drives or volunteer hours at the food bank. Continue our Friday afternoon program for special needs youth, which creates a way for these teens to give back to the community. Provide opportunities for Scouts, Campfire Boys and
Girls, Key Club and many other groups to donate time and energy to the food bank and fundraising events. Coordinate with the Juvenile Probation program to provide volunteer opportunities for these youth. Offer a program to New Visions High School to participate in the Community Food Drive.
Develop new sources of sustaining income. Diversify funding sources through expanded fundraising events and grant writing programs. Create public awareness of our need for community contributions to the food bank to generate increased donations from the community. Establish key events, which repeat annually and offer sustaining income through repetition. (Community Food Drive,
Softball Tournament, Gun Club Shoot, Bingo at American Legion, PF High School/Outback Dinner Theater, Spaghetti Feed, Festival of Giving, Feinstein Challenge, Post Falls Days Concession Stand, Hauser Rest Stop).
Improve our vehicle fleet for our surplus food recovery vehicle fleet. Research vehicle equipment opportunities through existing agencies that replace trucks regularly. (Police, Fire Department, Fish and Game, Forestry, etc.) Write grants for new vehicle equipment. Budget for purchase of 'new' vehicle.
Build a strong Board of Directors. Provide board training for all new directors. Maintain 11 board members on a sustained basis. Recruit new board members from business and the community.
Establish a program of building improvements. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of our building. Conduct an energy evaluation through Avista. Implement ways to reduce energy usage and increase cost efficiency. Set aside reserve funds for building improvements.
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