Pantry celebrates volunteers

Saturday was a little busy at the Bread Basket in Ronan, as volunteers and a board member were honored for their work.

Ernie Ducheneaux, a food coordinator and board member, was among those honored, Bread Basket Chair Judy Preston said.

Thirty-two people came to celebrate the hard work that each of the 40 volunteers perform throughout the year.

The food pantry, located at 10 Sixth Ave. SW, Ronan, serves about 200 families a month, which is approximately 600 people, Preston said.

As an emergency food pantry, Preston said The Bread Basket is regulated by the Montana Food Bank Network.

The Bread Basket reports to the network, who also inspects the group.

As a result, the pantry receives discounted food in addition to food from the Lakeside Food Pantry when it has too much food.

“Polson Loaves and Fish shares, too,” donating any abundance, Preston added.

The role of the pantry is to help the people that come for assistance, Preston said.

“A lot of the families we serve have jobs, but just can’t make ends meet.”

There are also senior citizens who need help.

To make sure that Ronan residents have enough food, The Bread Basket works with the Ronan School District, particularly Pablo Elementary, K. William Harvey Elementary and Ronan Middle schools.

School personnel identify students who may not have access to food easily through the weekend, Preston said.

On Fridays, those students go to a location at their school and pick up bags of food.

Preston said that keeping the children in mind, those involved carry out the process with discretion.

Preston said that also cause for celebration was the recent addition of space, which added 1,600 square feet.

“We doubled our space thanks to our landlord, who paid to insulate the garage space behind our center, and put a new roof on. Now we have much more space to store food, process and organize,” Preston said.

Open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10-2 p.m., The Bread Basket takes nonperishable items as well as monetary donations.

For volunteer opportunities or information on qualifications, visit ronanbreadbasket.org, or contact Preston at (406) 239-4576 or judy@ronan.net.