Pantry needs volunteer to pick up food
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OLSON — The Polson Loaves and Fish Pantry is searching for a volunteer to help pick up food at local supermarkets, according to Bryan River, pantry manager.
The work would require about an hour on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to pick up donations of food from Safeway.
“We have a truck and a budget for gas, all I need is for them to come down here and pick up a truck,” River said.
The volunteer must be able to lift about 50 pounds, which is about the weight of a crate of milk, River said.
A driver from the Knights of Columbus has been picking up grocery store contributions for several years, and will continue to do so. But with the consistent food the pantry gets from Safeway, Super One and Walmart, an additional driver is needed.
Recently, in one day, the volunteer driver picked up 1,000 pounds of meat from Walmart. Fortunately, the Polson pantry now has two walk-in freezers and two walk-in coolers they were able to secure through a USDA grant.
“Otherwise, we couldn’t do this, and the meat would go to waste,” River said. “But they fill up quickly.”
Excess meat is sent to pantries in Ronan, St. Ignatius, Hot Springs, Plains and Bigfork, according to River.
Anyone interested in helping can call River at (406) 546-1283.
