Kiwanis Food Bank needs donations

Most Sisters residents are familiar with the Kiwanis Food Bank on Main Avenue. The food bank distributes food to hundreds of needy residents each month. Last month, for example, the food bank passed out 18,000 pounds of food to over 300 people.

The food bank is operated entirely by volunteers, including Kiwanis members and Sisters residents. It requires more than 200 hours of volunteer time to operate the food bank each month. The food bank has no paid staff; everyone volunteers their time.

There is a misconception the food bank only distributes donated food. It is true that some food is donated; for example, Sisters High School just began a food drive to collect food. Local churches collect food and markets sell food baskets. These food donations are important, but most of the food distributed by the food bank is purchased with donated funds. Such financial support is critical; there could be no food bank without that support.

Donations are even more critical at Christmas due to the Spirit of Christmas Holiday Foodshare Program. Needy families are given gift cards to purchase food at Food 4 Less or Melvin's Fir Street Market. Last year, gift cards were distributed to 169 families (512 people). Applications for the Foodshare Program can be filled out at the Kiwanis Food Bank on Thursday, Decemberâ¯17.

Food Bank donations (cash or check) may be mailed to Sisters Kiwanis, P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759 or dropped off at the food bank, 328 W. Main Ave., any Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. All donations are tax-deductible. The donations purchase food for families whose income simply isn't sufficient.