Pantry Times - Helena Food Share
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Pantry Times
January 2021
Groceries to the Rescue
W hen grocery shopping,
do you ever wonder
how items get to the stores
Share because they know of the
need in our community. So when
they have excess, they gladly
filled with bakery goods, fruits
and vegetables, milk, deli items,
and assorted canned foods,
or what happens to products share with us. While it may be heads back to the pantry where
not ultimately sold? At Helena food that won’t be sold, it’s still the drivers unload the truck.
Food Share, the food we share good food. The crew then completes their
comes from a variety of sources, rounds of all the other stores
and our local stores play an Each day that Helena Food Share before calling it a morning.
especially important role. is open, grocery rescue staff
and volunteers arrive early at This Grocery Rescue program
Before last spring, the Helena the pantry, grab a cup of coffee, is a critical part of being able to
community provided food jump into a delivery truck and provide food to our neighbors in
through multiple food drives. begin making the rounds of need. It is also an important part
Then, and more importantly collecting food at 17 local stores. of our community’s food cycle,
today, your financial donations ensuring it gets to those in need
to Helena Food Share are of food rather than becoming
used to purchase food items waste in our landfills.
through a wide range of outlets.
Food providers include local Thank You to Grocery
retail and wholesale outlets, Rescue Partners!
Montana farmers and gardeners,
Albertsons
the Montana Food Bank
Bagel Company
Network (both purchased and Big Lots
donated items), and donated Bimbo Bakeries USA
commodities from the federal Bob’s Valley Market
government. All of this accounts Costco Wholesale
for approximately 60 percent Great Harvest Bread Co.
of the food distributed through Heritage Food Store
Helena Food Share programs. On a typical morning, Dave and Natural Grocers
Leroy or Steve and Joe, head Real Food Market & Deli
The biggest single source, nearly out to stores across the valley Safeway
40 percent, is food donated from to gather items that will soon Super 1 Foods
over a dozen businesses in the Target
become available later that
Van’s Thriftway
Helena area through Helena day for customers at one of our
Walmart
Food Share’s Grocery Rescue pantries. About an hour and a Wheat Montana Bakery & Deli
program. Each location donates half into the morning and after WinCo Foods
various products to Helena Food stopping by 5-6 stores, the truck,
HelenaFoodShare.org
Food Drives
Turn to
Virtual Fund
Drives
I
n addition to a virtual Turkey care of. No one should have to Other groups challenged
Challenge, food drives have go hungry, so giving a little bit coworkers, family and friends
morphed into virtual fund during the holiday season can to support Helena Food Share.
drives to ensure our donors, help alleviate some of the burdens These funds purchase food
staff, and volunteers’ safety. for those that are a little less for our neighbors in need, and
Individuals, local businesses, fortunate.” because we can buy at wholesale,
schools, churches and service bulk prices, we stretch those
groups have created virtual fund Our friends in East Helena dollars further!
drives to support this year’s also jumped in with a virtual
challenge for Everyone participating in this
the East Helena year’s challenges are heroes,
“In 2020 it has become especially School District. making so many people’s
important to make sure that folks in Superintendent holidays a bit brighter.
our community are taken care of.” Ron Whitmoyer
shared his
— SoFi team captains, Kurt and James
appreciation for
his community.
Thank you to Virtual
Turkey Challenge and general “More than 200 kids will benefit Fund Drives Heroes!
food donations. As a result, each month from these generous Church of Jesus Christ of
individuals from these groups donations through the Kid Pack Latter-day Saints
have hopped online to make a program,” Whitmoyer said. “This East Helena School District
gift and then challenged others amazing service from Helena Food First Presbyterian Church
to do the same. For example, the Share makes sure every child in Helena Employee Association
employees at SoFi created teams the district has nutritious food Helena Kiwanis
from their two office floors and in the house over the weekends
Lewis and Clark County
then competed between the when hot lunch is not available at
MDT Bridge Division
two floors to raise money for
this year’s Turkey Challenge.
school. As in the past, East Helena
MDT Consultant Design
once again has shown support Bureau
SoFi second floor has this year’s for their families, and we are very Montana Department
bragging rights. thankful that this blessing will of Justice
last throughout the year, not just Montana State Fund
When asked about setting up during this Christmas season.” Optimal Sports
their challenge, Kurt and James, Our Redeemer’s Lutheran
the SoFi team captains, shared, In other online challenges, The Church
“At SoFi we hold a core value of Helena Employee Association Pacific Steel and Recycling
taking care of other people. In donated in the name of their Premiere Dance Company
2020 it has become especially favorite Montana college team SoFi
important to make sure that – Cats, Griz, or Saints – with the WWC Engineering
folks in our community are taken Cats winning this competition.
January 2021 HelenaFoodShare.org
TURKEY Funding was just the first step
CHALLENGE
in meeting the challenge in
2020. Safely sharing food with
customers was the next critical
2020-Style piece. Customers selected
pick-up times online. Then, a
few days before the holidays,
a turkey or ham, vegetables,
stuffing, rolls, cranberries, and
other meal essentials were
boxed up and loaded into each
customer’s car.
Cards arrived shortly after
with words of gratitude. One
customer shared, “Thank you
again for being there when I’m out
W ith so many things in
2020, hosting a treasured
community event safely
part of this year’s big day. Still,
the excitement and energy of
competitive turkey drives and
of food. Every month I can count
on you still being there. You care
so much that I feel like giving back
presented a new challenge. For watching donations add up sometimes too. My heart and mind
the past nine years, Helenans throughout Friday created a new give you all the love one person
came to the Lewis & Clark sense of community. Helena can handle. May your holidays
Library the Friday before stepped up in record numbers be happy and cheerful this year. I
Thanksgiving with turkeys to and donated online to support would shake your hand and give
share so their neighbors in need their neighbors. They met our you a hug, but I can’t, so it’s the
could enjoy a traditional holiday challenge goal by providing thought that counts.”
meal. However, the desire to funds for over 2,500 meals.
keep people safe by following
social distancing guidelines Event sponsors Cochrane
meant this would not be Insurance, Big Sky Acoustics,
possible. Montana Radio Company, Pantry Times
KTVH/MTN, and the Lewis January 2021
As a result, the 2020 Turkey and Clark Library all played
Challenge became a virtual significant roles in the successful Pantry Times is a publication
event. Rather than donating event. Their financial support, of Helena Food Share.
turkeys, this year’s challenge enthusiasm, creativity, and Contact Us: (406) 443-3663
moved to online donations with good work ensured the tenth To Volunteer: ext. 106
the goal of funding 2,500 turkeys annual Turkey Challenge was To Donate: ext. 104
To Get Help: ext. 110
and accompanying sides to a triumph. The support of
provide a full holiday meal for long-time business partners, Our Pantries:
anyone who could not otherwise including Capital Sports, Marks 1616 Lewis Street, Helena
50 Prickley Pear, East Helena
put this type of meal on their Lumber, Mediterranean Grill,
table. Rock Hand Hardware, Tempest Office: 1437 Helena Avenue
Technologies, and those hosting HelenaFoodShare.org
The camaraderie of generous a virtual Turkey Challenge drive
friends stopping by the library (see page 2), also made this a
to drop off turkeys was not a banner year.
January 2021 HelenaFoodShare.org
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
HELENA, MT 59601
PERMIT NO. 266
PO Box 943, Helena, MT 59624
Pantry Times
HelenaFoodShare.org
WHAT’S INSIDE:
HUNGER HEROES
• Groceries to the
Rescue
• Report to the
Community
Who is a Hunger Hero? • Turkey Challenge
he·ro /’hirō/ noun – a person noted for courageous Results
acts or nobility of character.
Karen decided to become a Hunger Monthly Support from
Hero when she realized she Our Hunger Heroes:
didn’t need a cape or mask to do
something that makes the world a • Ensures 1,500 local families can
better place. Her superpower was shop for groceries at Helena Food
always a part of her. Karen knows Share
that ensuring no one goes hungry
is a noble act, and anyone can • Makes it possible for nearly 6,000
participate. pounds of groceries to go home with
over 100 families who visit the pantry
”Hunger in this community is an each day
ongoing concern and I want to help.
If I can make a difference for one • Helps distribute over 1,100 Kid
person, I’m happy,” said Karen. “After Packs to local elementary students
learning the importance of monthly each week
support and the stability it provides,
I knew this was the best way I could • And so much more!
address hunger issues.”
It’s Easy to Become a Hunger Hero
Sign up at HelenaFoodShare.org/hunger-hero/
New in 2021: Hunger Heroes will receive monthly updates
on the many ways their support helps reduce food insecurity
in our community.You can also read
