2011 Photo Gallery
Mormon Helping Hands -
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Paul Stewart-- Klamath Falls Oregon Stake President, Niki Sampson--Director-Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank, Gerry Hill--Klamath Falls Oregon Stake Public Affairs Director
On September 17th, 2011, Mormon Helping Hands - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints collected nearly 12,000 pounds of food from Klamath and Lake County residents. Grocery bags were left at 10,000 homes on September 14th asking residents to fill the bag and leave it on their porch for pick up. The response was fantastic. Along with the 12,000 pounds of food collected, monetary donations made by church members and others totaled just over $5,600, yielding approximated 67,500 additional pounds of food. LDS Church Members donated 1,500 hours of their time organizing, delivering food bags and collecting the food. This kind of help is the only way we can keep up with this unbelievable demand. This community makes my heart smile!
The food drive was part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Church Welfare Program. Each Stake throughout the world was asked to participate in the 2011 Community Day of Service.
Gerry Hill, LDS Public Affairs Director, commented on what a pleasure it was working with the food bank. I responded with a laugh and how the pleasure was truly all ours!!!
This economy has forced many to look to the food bank for a little help. We’re currently distributing 31,000 pounds of food weekly. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more difficult to keep up with the weekly demand.
This food drive was a huge undertaking and will sustain us until other food drives take place over the next 3-4 months. Every single person donating one can of food CAN make such a difference!
Thanks to ALL
ALBERTSONS
Eric and James with Albertsons receive a big thank you card from Niki Sampson with the food bank. Albertsons is a big supporter of the food bank. They ask customers to support Thanksgiving dinners for those in need. Our early spring event "Project Second Wind" raises thousands of pounds of food annually. They donate gift cards for food purchase and to assist cancer treatment patients. And last, but not least; they are a vital part of our food rescue program that takes place daily. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
LETTER CARRIERS' FOOD DRIVE
The annual Letter Carrier's Food Drive takes place in May. Our wonderful local letter carriers deposit bags in mailboxes a couple of days before the event. Residents are asked to fill the bag and the carriers pick up the food and deliver it to our awesome volunteers set up across from the post office the day of the event. In May of 2011 more than 31,000 pounds of food were collected through rain, snow, sun, sleet and hail.
BIRTHDAY FOOD DRIVE
This is Tannyr Rose. Tannyr is a food bank supporter. This wonderful kid sent out a flyer asking his classmates to donate a can of food to his Birthday food drive. He raised 31 pounds of food and $40. The $40 will yield as much as 480 additional pounds of food. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANNYR AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A HUNGER HERO.
TRAILERS FOR THE FOOD BANK
KMSB Foundation and Sterling Savings Bank provided $6,334 in grant funding that allowed the food bank to purchase three flatbed trailers for food pantries in Lake County. Two of the trailers will provide a safer and easier way for pantry volunteers to pick up more food in Kamath Falls and unload it more easily at their sites in Lakeview and Paisley. The third will benefit local member agencies on an as-need basis. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
PETCO - "WHERE THE PETS GO"
Petco's staff, vendors and customers raised $1,555 dollars to feed humans. They take care of humans and pets. We receive pet food and pet products weekly. We donate these products to low-income seniors to help their pets. Many of the seniors we help have small dogs or cats for companionship, sometimes their only 24 hour companion. THANKS PETCO!!!
KLAMATH LUTHERAN CHURCH
The food bank provided a small grant for Klamath Lutheran Church (a food pantry member agency) to build a couple of small garden boxes to get local kids interested in growing their own food. What fun. We'll let you know how it turns out in a couple of months!!!!
E3LIVE / KLAMATH ALGAE
E3Live/Klamath Algae staff are wonderful. They raised nearly $700 and 400 pounds of food to help feed our friends and neighbors in our commuity that are struggling right now.
THANKS, EVERYBODY!
SAFEWAY
Safeway employees raise $1,000. YeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaa!