Food bank fundraiser

The Town Pump matching funds program for North Valley Food Bank comes back to help one of their own, the mother of a five-year old.

The young child had been going through a series of tests for diagnosis of serious medical problems. The mother was told to get the child on nutritional food supplements immediately in order to bring his weight up.

The mother, in tears, told a friend of her dilemma of not being able to buy the costly items (PediaCare, as well as Carnation Instant Breakfast to add to his milk).

The food bank didn't have these items on our shelves, but I went out and purchased these items (thanks to all donations). The much-needed items and a box of food were on the mother's table in two hours.

I would like to see other businesses follow the Town Pump program philosophy and help our local food banks. Individuals can help by asking their local grocery stores to save food that is not sold and have it picked up by the food bank daily. Vegetables and fruits are important in everyone's diets.

Safeway is sorely missed for their generous donations, and we greatly appreciate Super 1 Food's contributions.

This is also the time of year we receive fresh produce from everyone's gardens, and the fresh game comes in from hunting. Thanks to you all who help out at this time.

We're very pleased to have helped so many during our school supply and backpack project. Several churches and many folks gave mightily to this need. Leftover items are going to be distributed by teachers through the school system to those in need who missed this opportunity at North Valley Food Bank.

The Town Pump Charitable Foundation's seventh annual Food Bank Fundraiser has started. The foundation will match up to $5,000 collected from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30. All funds raised, including the matching funds, will stay in Whitefish.

Again, we would like to thank Maureen Kenneally and Town Pump Foundation for their generous support of food banks in Montana through the Town Pump Matching Funds program. Please help North Valley Food Bank meet their $5,000 goal — the funds raised in Whitefish will stay in Whitefish.

June Munski-Feenan

North Valley Food Bank