Local food bank adds board members, services

Community Harvest Food Bank (CHFB) in Thompson Falls has expanded their board to nine members and has implemented new procedures due to the impacts of COVID-19. The food bank has not seen any setbacks because of the virus, and it is still open and ready to help those in need.

“Community Harvest Food Bank is here to serve eligible people in the Thompson Falls and Trout Creek areas,” stated Hank Smith, president of CHFB. “If you are not sure if you qualify, please stop by and speak to one of our volunteers.”

The food bank has not seen an increase in traffic due to COVID-19. Smith correlates this to the pandemic itself. “In fact, there have been fewer clients since COVID-19 affected our county,” he said. While the effects of the virus have not hindered operations, CHFB is taking preventive measures to help lessen the spread of the virus. “We have requested our clients wear a face mask, as directed by the governor; and we have marked off the floor for six feet of distancing, along with limiting the number of clients in at a time,” Smith said. “The clients come in the front door, decide what food they want, and the volunteers take the food boxes out the side door and that is where the clients pick up their food.”

Smith hasn’t seen any particular items that have been in high demand, nor are they in need of any donated items at this time. “We purchase food from the Montana Food Bank Network at a discounted price, and some of the food we order is also free,” Smith said. “We also receive vegetables from Bountiful Baskets every other week.”

Farmers for Families, a federal government program that provides produce to those in need, is another contributor that allows CHFB to serve those in need in the Thompson Falls and Trout Creek areas. “We pick this produce up at Hot Springs every Thursday afternoon, for clients to pick up every Friday morning,” Smith stated. The food bank also purchases food from Grocery Surplus and Harvest Foods, Smith says. Harvest Foods donates to the food bank as well. “So, we have not experienced any food shortages,” he continued.

CHFB is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will also be carrying fresh produce from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Friday until the end of November. The food bank is located behind Community Congregational Church in Thompson Falls. For more information, call 827-6333.