Food bank honored as month's top business

SANDPOINT — The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce has honored the Bonner Community Food Center as its business of the month for November.

The food bank is a non-profit service organization dedicated to providing nutritious food sources. The ministerial association, along with concerned citizens, organized the Bonner Community Food Center in 1980.

The food bank moved to its present location at 1707 Culvers Drive in 2011.

The community of Bonner County is blessed with a food bank that is the only one of its kind in Idaho, said director Alice Wallace. When the new building location was purchased, she said it was with a new format in mind for the delivery of its food services called a “market.”

“The market format was established in November 2011, and has proven to be a brilliant way of food delivery for food bank recipients,” she said. Each individual that is head of a household is given 70 points to spend as cash in the food bank. Each other individual in that same family gets another 10 additional points. These points are used the same as money in a regular store.”

All of the food bank’s clients like the system, which Wallace said preserves their independence and integrity.

“Sometimes the choice is between buying food and paying the rent, buying medication, or other vital expenses,” she said. “The Bonner Community Food Bank seeks to alleviate the stress of hunger and not knowing where the next meal is coming from, better equipping their clients to be able to deal with all of life’s challenges.”

Wallace said the food bank’s board, staff and volunteers thanked all those who have made the organization’s success possible through contributions of time, goods or money,

“Without your generosity we would not be able to help those who are truly in need in our community,” she added. “The food bank relies on your support. Our funding comes from individuals, businesses, local organizations and grants. The current economic climate has created an urgent situation of reduced funding, a sharp drop in donations and a significant rise in the number of families who are turning to us for assistance. Without your generous support, we could not reliably provide food for our neighbors in Bonner County.”

Information: Bonner Community Food Center, 1707 Culver Drive, Sandpoint; or 263-3663