Food banks across the country have proven to be critical during this pandemic in assisting people who need food.
Kenai Peninsula District Cooperative Extension agent Linda Tannehill said the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank has risen to the challenge of providing food as well as making the necessary adjustments to keep clients, staff and volunteers safe.
Extension has been helping the food bank in a number of ways. Tannehill serves on the board of directors and chairs the Education and Outreach Committee. Amorette Payment, the EFNEP nutrition educator, is a member of this committee as well as her daughter, Selena.
“Volunteering on Saturdays is one way to safely assist the food bank and keep our committee engaged since all of our planned activities are on hold,” Tannehill said. She added, “We wear masks and gloves. Social distance is easy because we are the only volunteers in the facility.”
Amorette Payment said it was disappointing to have COVID-19 temporarily pause her work with the food bank to establish a nutrition policy and make changes to improve the health of the community.
“The need is greater than ever though, so I’m glad there is another way to help safely during this time,” she said. “Even my family has jumped in!”
Early Saturday morning, the truck driver picks up the donated food from the grocery stores and delivers it to the food bank warehouse. The food is sorted and some of it prepped for the upcoming week. Since the soup kitchen is not currently open for dining, all the meals are prepared for takeout.
The committee has also stocked shelves with canned goods from food drives and bagged 5,000 pounds of donated frozen fish for distribution to neighbors. Members have also deboned rotisserie chickens. The food bank received a donation of 14,000 pounds of frozen smelt from SeaShare. Tannehill assembled recipes for preparing smelt and they accompany the 10-pound bags of smelt.
Kenai Peninsula 4-H has also been involved in helping the food bank. Program assistant Cassy Rankin said 4-H members were happy to help feed their community by donating homegrown pork to the food bank for use in its daily lunches.
“The pork was raised by local 4-H’ers and sold to the JML Buyers’ Group at last summer’s auction, and was fresh frozen after the auction, just waiting for use at a 4-H event, or in this case, to help serve our community during the COVID-19 shutdown,” she said. “KP 4-H is thankful for the food bank and all their hard work in feeding the people of the Kenai Peninsula!”
Tannehill says it has been heartwarming to witness individuals, grocery stores, philanthropic organizations, restaurants, and banks all working together to address the increased need for food. “The outpouring of generosity during this pandemic has exposed the best of humanity. I’m happy CES has been involved.”
