Holly Rourick and Ken Blakeman of Primeland; Chuck Whitman, Manager of The Idaho Foodbank's North Central Branch; and Guy Bernier of Primeland.

The Idaho Foodbank is happy to announce a $5,000 donation from Primeland Cooperatives, the result of the company’s “Harvest for Hunger” event in Lewiston.

Primeland found an unusual way to raise these funds, a contest called “Kiss the Pig.” Employees and customers competed to donate the most money, and the manager of the location that raised the most money “got” to kiss the pig.

The winner was Ken Blakemen (above), whose associates and customers raised $3,516.40 in his name.

Primeland Cooperatives are a division of CHS, a multi-state diversified energy, grains and foods company with an 80-year history in Lewiston.

Our thanks to everyone at Primeland and our sympathies to Ken. If you would like to join Primeland and help fight hunger in Idaho, here is a great place to start.

The Friday crew of volunteers at the Lifeline Food Bank in Orofino: Don Ostrander, Joe Munda, Julie Howard and Roger Fisk.

Partner Profile

By Chuck Whitman

After five years of Mobile Pantry service in Orofino, the Lifeline Food Bank has opened its doors to the community at 2179 Carney Dr., Space G.

This food bank, sponsored by the Clearwater Community Foundation, has been in the planning for the past two years. The local Ministerial Association coordinated the Foodbank’s Orofino Mobile Pantry these past five years, and it has now transformed the Mobile into The Lifeline Food Bank. This has been a community initiative and a fills an important need for this North Central Idaho area along the State Highway 12 corridor in Clearwater and Nez Perce counties.

Karen and Chris Jensen are the primary contacts for the Lifeline Food Bank, and they bring a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment to this organization. With the backing of Maria Ward, Jill Woosley and Terry Grugger at the Clearwater Community Foundation, they eventually plan to be independent and community supported.

The Mobile Pantry served Orofino on the third Monday of each month. Typically, it assisted 80 to 100 families depending on weather and the time of year. Lifeline Food Bank officials anticipate it will serve about the same number of families, but unlike the mobile, access to food will be all month long.

For more information, call 208-827-1393.

To evolve the Mobile into a “brick and mortar” pantry is a tremendous success for Orofino and a great example of a community helping itself and the families in need. Congratulations to everyone involved. This is a tremendous achievement.