Thousands of area residents were involved with the October food drive for the Community Food Basket, donating and collecting food to help our food-insecure friends. Neighborhoods collected and delivered huge loads of donations while volunteers at local grocery stores collected donations from shoppers.
The recipients of the food are not the only ones blessed. Volunteers shared their experiences and feelings about this Herculean campaign.
Some of their insights include statements like these:
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“Serving the community through JustServe and the Community Food Basket has been a great privilege and experience. We met so many wonderful volunteers who were willing to help and serve. It is uplifting and comforting to rub shoulders with such great people.”
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“Not only were the huge crates filled with generous donations one after another, but our hearts were also filled with deep gratitude to be part of a giving community. It's when people come together to serve for a greater cause you feel the beauty and the true meaning of service.”
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“I was deeply touched by the first person that arrived Saturday at the food drive drop-off at a local school. This lady pulled up in a vehicle needing repairs and came up with two small cans of food. She said, ‘this is all I can donate’. I asked her if she was sure she wanted to and she said, ‘yes! I need to!’ Her two cans were the first to be placed in the donation trailer! She hugged me and I thanked her! After she left, I cried! She gave all she could!”
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“A business donated 2,256 pounds of frozen chicken and mashed potatoes I was so touched by the outpouring of donations.”
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“So many giving families in our community! So grateful to live here! It was a special experience to witness and be part of!”
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“I picked up donations on a Saturday from Albertsons. I was happy to see so many boxes of cereal being donated. I remember as a single mother not being able to buy my kids name brand cereal, so that made me very happy to see that happening.”
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“While helping at the drop-off location several parents brought their children and allowed them to put the bags of food in the boxes.”
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“One man brought a full pickup load of food. I asked how he heard about the drive, and he said his wife saw it on Facebook and wanted to participate. I thanked him and asked him to thank his wife. It was good knowing the word was getting out to communities.”
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“Nothing feels more humbling or satisfying than gathering food for those experiencing a lack of such a basic need. When I go to gather food from the grocery store donation barrels and happen to catch it when there are few items, it's like an anchor slowly sinking in my heart. Oh, but what gratitude to go back again and find the barrel full. I love my community!”
The Boy Scouts of America joined the Community Food Drive in five local grocery stores on their Scouting for Food Day. It was a chilly day, but the scouts braved the cold. Besides Idaho Falls, the Boy Scouts had a presence in Shelley, Blackfoot, St. Anthony, Rexburg, Rigby, and in the Pocatello areas.
“We estimated around 8,000 pounds of food collected in the region of southeastern Idaho that went directly to the local food banks,” shared Elias Lopez, District Director “We had 225 Scouts and adults get involved at the various store fronts with over 900 man hours dedicated to feeding the hungry. We are very thankful for the opportunity that the Grand Teton Council had to do our part to help feed the hungry.”