April 22nd, 2010
This is a great article by Sarah Sandori giving advice on starting a food ministry locally. Though the rewards are great, there is alot of work and organizing to do. She briefly goes into the different kinds of food assistance programs that you can start, but focuses mainly on the food bank model.
Sarah has given alot of good advice to those weeking to start a program at their local church, and goes into the expectations and possible pitfalls of doing so. She talks about a food ministry that she is involved with and gives information on how you can get in touch with them if you would like to get involved. Read the rest of this entry »
April 22nd, 2010
This article by author Kristen Sweat, takes a look at one of the most underlooked segments of the population when it comes to the types of people who need assistance from food banks or other charities. We typically think of the homeless or families on welfare when we think of food assistance programs. Kristen presents a different perpective that will help to raise awareness of a problem that may affect people that you know very well. It might even be you. Read the rest of this entry »
April 21st, 2010
According to James Bird, coordinator of the Blackfeet Food Bank Center, “The Center will serve the Blackfeet Nation by acting as an emergency food source for needy families, elderly and the disabled, as well as working with Blackfeet Search and Rescue.”
Bird said the center’s main objective is to assist people in dire need of food items. “We’re doing this because of cutbacks in the food stamp program, cutbacks in general assistance, a low firefighting season – a lot of firefighters did not get to go out, expected layoffs at Blackfeet tribal programs and the Blackfeet Tribe, and cutbacks in budgets within various departments, tribal, state and federal.There is an estimated 85 percent unemployment rate,” Bird said, “and Montana is the fourth lowest state of the nation out of 50 states.”
Any financial donations that the new center receives will be used to purchase boxes and containers to repack donated food items and to help pay for fuel to distribute food items to outlaying communities, noted Bird.
The Blackfeet Food Bank Center is chartered by Blackfeet tribal government and is a nonprofit organization.It also is an all volunteer effort, non-faith and nondiscriminatory.
