When we last came to the food bank, just three weeks ago, the shelves were bare, the need for food and funds were extremely urgent, and it felt like hope was slipping away. But Lori Garrard, Director of the Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank refused to take no for an answer and so did the community of Klamath County.
“It’s almost overwhelming in the very best possible way. So many people are just digging deep in their hearts, in their pockets to help support us.” Garrard stated as we sat in her office reflecting on the immense amount of support she has received over the last few weeks.
Over the last three weeks, the community has rallied around the food bank and has shown up in ways that Garrard never saw coming. Businesses, individuals and families, schools and all sorts of different organizations stepped up to donate and or host food and fund drives. In fact, there are so many food and fund drives going on right now in the community, that the food bank needed to order more food barrels and coin boxes to give to those trying to help.
Speaking of the community, we asked Lori how the annual Supermarket Saturday event went on Saturday November 8th. This is one of the food bank’s biggest fundraisers, where businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to be one ton sponsors. This year, the cost to be a one ton sponsor was $500.
“It was amazing. Best holiday of the year. So in one ton sponsorships we raised about $80,000, which is more than double my goal. And then we were at the grocery stores on Saturday and we collected over 3,500 pounds of food plus a ton of monetary donations.”
When we asked if she had an overall total for Supermarket Saturday, Lori responded with “$80,000 and climbing,” and a big smile on her face.
Those food and money donations are going to help the food bank keep food on the shelves of their pantries and keep members of our community who rely on the food bank, including the elderly, families with children and veterans, fed this holiday season and beyond.
In the midst of the Government Shutdown, the state of Oregon received $5 million and of that money, the food bank received a little over $136,000. Since Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank is a regional food bank, Lori decided to take 100% of that allocation and instead of giving it to the state to purchase food for them, she will take it and ”infuse that into our local community and purchase 100% of that food locally.”
Looking ahead to the holidays, the food bank plans to distribute close to 400 Thanksgiving food boxes, which is 100 more than they originally planned to give out, thanks to an influx in donations. It is too late to sign up to receive a Thanksgiving box, however, those who may need some food assistance right now are encouraged to call the food bank at 541-882-1223 or visit the food bank’s website at Klamathfoodbank.org and find a list of food pantries and frequently asked questions.
“Right now we’re doing really really well because of our community.” Garrard stated, She continued to talk about just how amazing our community is and how they really helped turn the circumstances around for the food bank and those who utilize it. She explained that her problems went from “our shelves are so bare” to “where are my guys going to put all this food?”
When asked if there was anything else she would like to tell the community, Lori simply said, “I love Klamath Falls. There are no words. Seriously, they have really just kind of bolstered my spirits. And I have faith in humanity again, and I needed it.”
If you would like to donate to the Klamath Lake Counties Food Bank, you can make a secure online donation at klamathfoodbank.org
By Melissa Tolbert, mybasin.com news
