Giving a little can mean a lot

There is never a bad time to donate to the Malta Food Bank, but sometimes are better than others.

From now until the end of November, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation will match dollar for dollar – up to $1,000 – donations collected and all funds raised in Malta will stay in Malta.

“It worked very well last year and we reached our goal of $1,000,” said Malta Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator June Cornell.

People who would like to make donations to the Malta Food Bank can do so by mailing a check – 110 S. 1st W. -- or stopping by. Cornell said receipts for donations will be given and the food bank staff monitors the donations to submit to Town Pump.

“Whatever we raise, they match up to $1,000,” Cornell added.

Cornell said that 2015 is the second year in which the Malta Food Bank has participated in the Town Pump program which is entitled Be A Friend in Deed, Help Those in Need. She said an article in the Great Falls Tribune keyed the food bank staff in on the program. She said in years past, before teaming with Town Pump, many people in the county made donations close to Christmas to assist the food bank with operational costs. Now, since Town Pump matches the donations, many people have started giving their donations in the September 1 through November 30 window allotted for matching-program.

“We will still take donations at other times,” she said. “Everything helps, regardless of when it is given.”

Statewide, Town Pump is matching $500,000 to help raise over $3 million for participating food banks. All contributions are tax deductible. So far this year, there have been three or four donations made and Cornell said the more people become aware of the Town Pump match, the faster the food bank will reach the $1,000 goal.

Cornell said the Malta Food Bank served 119 households in September, somewhat low when compared to a normal month. The food bank, which shares a building with the Malta Senior Center, is made up of several volunteers which assist in the distribution of food as well as work in the bank’s Clothes Room (which people can also donate to, anytime of year.) Cornell said the Clothing room also accepts small kitchen items and cutlery, bedding, and other household items.

“We have lots of people who help out when needed,” Cornell said. “We have lots of people show-up to help sack the Senior Commodities as well.”

Cornell explained that the Senior Commodities, which come in by semi-truck every other month, are sorted and distributed to up to 80 seniors in the area. The Senior Commodities are made up, among other items, of two large jugs of juice, four cans of vegetables, two cans of fruit, a 2-pound block of cheese, cereal and either beans or peanut butter. There are several other items in the commodity sacks, depending on the month. Cornell said seniors aren’t charged for the grocery items and are distributed based upon a person’s income.

“If your income meets the guidelines, then it is no charge at all,” she said. “Resources aren’t considered, it is just based on income.”

Cornell explained that the Malta Food Bank only has 80 slots for the Senior Commodities, most of them full, but spots often come open.

“Last month I believe we had 76 slots filled,” Cornell said. “Even if all the slots are filled, people can always come in and apply and we have a waiting list. Currently, there is no one on the waiting list so we have some slots open.”

Cornell said volunteers are always needed and welcome on unload days and those interested in assisting can contact her at 654-1018 and your name will be added to a list. The Malta Food Bank is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until noon. If those times don’t work for anyone, all they have to do is contact the food bank – 654-1018 – to make different arrangements.

The money raised through the Town Pump matching program will go, among other things, to help cover the costs for this year’s Christmas Baskets. One year the food bank gifted 119 Christmas baskets – consisting of, among other things, items to make a full holiday meal.

“It will go to help cover the costs of those baskets as well as for regular food when we don’t get enough on our network truck or donations,” said Malta Food Bank volunteer Carol Schumacher.

Schumacher added that people around town should be on the lookout for children going door-to-door this Halloween season collecting canned foods for the food bank.