Filling the Bread Basket
Chris Shrider, Guest Column
With the cold nights and crisp mornings of autumn it is time to prepare for the winter ahead. Although early, the Bread Basket is taking this time to advise you regarding our preparations for the holidays. This is the time of year when more people need a helping hand. We know the holiday season is a very busy time for everyone, including The Bread Basket. Each year, Bread Basket volunteers put together a special food basket as a holiday gift for the needy families we serve. This would not be possible without your generous support of our community.
The Town Pump, Inc. of Butte is helping the people of Ronan, Charlo, Pablo and Moiese by sponsoring their seventh annual “Be a friend in deed” campaign. This year, the company will match every dollar collected for the Bread Basket - up to $5,000 - continuing through the end of November. We are already working hard to meet this goal and feel so fortunate to live in a community where there are so many people who care: friends, in deed. By the Town Pump’s charitable donation meeting our community’s financial generosity we will be able to make sure we can feed the needy throughout the long winter when work is hard to find. Thank you for your continued support.
The Bread Basket is an emergency food pantry, which means we provide each eligible family enough food for only four days each month. Approximately 40 percent of our recipients have jobs, but they are not making enough money to be above the poverty level, according to state income guidelines. Many of our recipients are also elderly and are unable to work . With the road work finished up in our area more people who had temporary jobs are knocking at our door and the economy is not being kind to any of us.
What a wonderful celebration and show of support by our high school students when floats for the homecoming parade were decorated with cans of food, too. Each class, from freshmen to seniors, was represented by the student council’s decision to make a food donation of 1,300 lbs.— valued at $1,800 — for the hungry. Thank you, young people! Then there was Joseph Leafty, who was working for his Eagle Scout Badge this past summer. He collected 500 lbs. of food for the Bread Basket by going door to door. Thanks so much!
There are so many individuals, ranchers, farmers, businesses, and organizations that unfailingly keep us going by donating their time and energy, food, and financial support. Thank you, one and all. The Bread Basket and your neighbors are extremely grateful.
The food items we are giving for the holidays include: frozen turkeys or fryers, cranberries, fruit cocktail, Jell-O, turkey dressing, pie filling or cake mix, peanut butter, canned vegetables and fruit, potatoes, cereal, margarine, flour and sugar. We also try to have some fresh fruit ( apples, oranges, etc.) to give out. All of these items make for a wonderful dinner for our needy families in addition to the three days worth of food each family receives.
Our annual holiday food drive goes from Nov. through Dec. Food can be dropped off at the Bread Basket on Tuesdays or Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are still located at 10 6th Ave. SW. All food items and monetary gifts are greatly appreciated! Volunteers are always welcome! If interested, please call Barbara at 676-3699 or Cheryl at 676-8014.
A quick reminder: our financial goal of $5,000 needs to be met by the end of November. Please mail your financial gifts to : Bread Basket, PO Box 346, Ronan, MT 59864.
God Bless You and Your Families! Have a great Holiday Season!