Time for giving

Many people may not yet have given their Thanksgiving dinner plans a second thought.

But for the more than 700 people who signed up for meal assistance for the upcoming holiday, whether or not they can enjoy a hot meal is fresh on their minds.

“We have always in the past been able to provide,” said Barb Bennett, director of the Spokane Valley Food Bank. “We hope to do it this year, too.”

The Valley Food Bank is sending out an early request for food and funds this year. The bank’s reserves have been depleted, and currently the operation is emptying out its food each week, only to have it refilled the next.

Bennett said most people don’t think about donating holiday food until the time around the holidays. But the need for Thanksgiving food has already begun, and the agency is seeking donations of frozen turkeys and other Thanksgiving-related items now.

“It would be nice if folks got in the giving mood a little earlier so we can plan a little better,” Bennett said. “We usually get donations, but unfortunately it usually comes at the last minute.”

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest seasons of the year for the food bank, Bennett said. Many families that depend on the bank can find other arrangements for Christmas, but Thanksgiving seems to be a crucial time, she said.

Last year 800 or so people received Thanksgiving baskets from the Valley food bank. The bank was low on supplies but a last-minute plea for donations brought a huge response of food.

“Last year people were just so generous,” Bennett said. “I know it’s in people’s hearts, but they get caught up in their own busy lives and maybe forget about the food bank.”

There are three ways to help the food bank, Bennett said. First, food donations are always useful, no matter what time of year.

Several community businesses hold food drives, and Central Valley School District students will be doing a Fill the Bus food drive Nov. 18.

“There are many small drives going on, and it takes every one of them to pull this together for us,” Bennett said.

Also, donations of money can go a long way. Because the food bank works closely with Second Harvest Inland Northwest, it can use money to buy high quantities of food at very low prices, Bennett said.

And there is also a need for volunteers to help out at the food bank right now, Bennett said. One man who recently donated his time wrote an e-mail to his organization, saying, “Always I thought someone else could do it. We’re the someone else,” Bennett said.

Volunteers help organize the food and distribute it to patrons. They typically work Wednesdays.

Families just keep coming to the food bank, Bennett said. Two weeks ago it saw an unexpected increase in families, and the shelves were completely emptied.

“We’re running pretty much week to week,” she said. “We give everything away.”