Amid the increasingly busy, often chaotic, days at the Post Falls Food Bank, there's jolly Maxine Nelson.

She turns 85 in January as the nonprofit's oldest volunteer, but you'd never know it by the way she handles sacks of spuds and milk gallons to distribute to those in need.

"I really like to do it," she said with a smile a few minutes after the food bank closed on Tuesday when 111 baskets of food went out the door. "Sometimes it's hard to get a coffee break."

The Post Falls woman volunteers at the food bank three days a week for six hours each day. This year she has put in more than 1,000 volunteer hours. She often arrives early and stays late if needed.

"She is a true inspiration to many of us," said Sherry Wallis, the food bank's executive director. "Maxine is one of our most dedicated volunteers. She is dependable, knowledgeable and kind-hearted.

"I believe she knows that the time and talent she shares with us truly does lessen the burden of others. She is very conscientious about whether we have enough helping hands on any given day, and is always one of the first to volunteer for extra-curricular outreach activities."

Nelson said she enjoys the camaraderie with the food bank staff and volunteers, while at the same time helping the hungry.

"On the days she is not here, we miss her smile and her extra hands," Wallis said. "She is a master at what she does. We rely on her to help new volunteers and she always sets an outstanding example to others by her actions and willingness to pitch in on any given task.

"When all others have gone for the day, you can always find Maxine tidying up, making sure freezer and refrigerator doors are tightly closed, sweeping the floors or cleaning our front porch. She can run circles around just about any of us."

Volunteer Judie Boyce added: "I want to be like (Maxine) when I grow up."

Wallis sees the food bank's structure as a three-legged stool. The grocer partners are the meat and potatoes. Cash donors are the heartbeat. And the volunteers are the soul.

"Without one of these supporters, we could not fulfill our mission of providing hunger relief in our community," Wallis said.

Nelson began volunteering at the food bank six years ago after her husband, Dick, passed. She said being around the food bank team, including long-time volunteers Ernie Carr and Don Carlson, helps keep her driven.

What keeps you going at the food bank?

It makes me feel good to help. There's such a need for it. The people here are all so nice and friendly.

How has the need changed from when you first started volunteering at the food bank six years ago?

When I first started, I can remember saying 45 baskets a day was the record. But we have done 141 in a day.

How did you get connected with the food bank?

My husband passed away in March (six years ago) and I started volunteering here in July. It kept me busy and the grieving got easier. I had a neighbor who volunteered here and he asked me if I'd like to come down and volunteer. He brought me down the first time and I saw a need for more volunteers. At first, I volunteered five days a week but that got to be too much and I got to be too tired. I find that I'm not as good-natured when I get tired.

How much longer do you plan to volunteer?

As long as my health holds out.

What do you do at the food bank?

In the morning, I get 10 baskets ready. The parking lot may be full with people waiting to get in. We keep the baskets, shelves, freezers and coolers full. We try to keep the place as clean as we can, but there's so much going on that it's hard to do. After it closes, we sweep up. I have little interaction with the public.

You're on your feet and walking a lot. How do you do it?

I'm just blessed to have enough energy. I do all my own yardwork, mowing, watering and shoveling. I don't like exercise. If you call it "exercise," forget it. I see so many people my age that can't do this, so I think God has been very good to me.

Since you were a grocery checker, was the food bank a natural for you to volunteer your time?

A lot of the time at the grocery stores, we didn't have a box boy and did our own. You learn to put things a certain way in a bag. I'm that way here. We used to put a lot more in those bags (at the food bank), but we've had to cut back because, when you're serving more than 100 families each day rather than 45, it takes too much.

Did you ever have a time in your life where you needed help or perhaps utilized the services of a food bank? Explain.

They didn't have food banks when our girls were young, but we could have used one.

What are your thoughts on your volunteer work at the food bank?

I haven't heard anybody complain, so I guess I do my share.