COEUR d'ALENE - Sparks flew as welding students gained hands-on experience while assisting Community Action Partnership on Friday morning.

Four North Idaho College welding technology students volunteered their time to apply some much-needed work to the food bank's cracking cardboard baler and build 12 rolling wire racks to enhance the food shelving system.

"It's amazing what they're doing for us," said food bank manager Carolyn Shewfelt. "I would say that they're saving us more than a couple thousand dollars in labor."

Shewfelt contacted welding instructor Tim Straw regarding the projects. Straw then reached out to Coeur d'Alene Metals, which donated all the steel for the tasks.

"We're a community college, we're out here helping the community," Straw said. "So it works out pretty good."

First-year welding student Toye Ladrow of Coeur d'Alene worked on the dollies and watched for fire safety. He said he was more than happy to help because, as a full-time student, the food bank is sometimes a resource for him.

"I enjoy doing this stuff," he said. "They've helped me out so many times."

Ladrow said he would like to see more people donating.

"This place could always use more donations," he said. "There's a lot of people here in northern Idaho that need the food bank. And right now times are tough, with the economy, and coming up with Christmas and Thanksgiving. There's a lot of people in need around here. If I could do this to help one way or another, then I'll help out where I can. It makes the people's lives here easier."

Second-year student Val Gneiting of Post Falls worked on grinding the cracks out of the baler's welds.

"If it benefits someone else, for free especially, it'll come my way again," he said. "Karma, I guess."

Straw said working on projects in the community is the best way his students can get real-world experience.

"When you're in a welding shop like we are, it's just kind of a controlled environment," he said. "When you get out, you have to get out of your comfort zone, and lay on the ground, lean inside the crusher, you know, whatever. Upside-down, sideways... they kind of realize, 'Wow, this is what the job is going to be like when I get out here and do the real thing.'"

The funds for the shelves, wheel hardware and other projects came from a $5,000 grant Community Action Partnership received through the 3Cs (Cancer and Community Charities).

"The food banks are kind of special to us," said Sally Cannon, chairperson of the 3Cs appropriations committee. The appropriations committee decides how funds are distributed.

"We like to fund the food banks as much as we can," she said.

A new greenhouse for the food bank was also completed earlier this week, the Eagle Scout graduation project of Boy Scout Chris Adams.

"We'll be able to do our own starts and share starts with people who have gardens, so they can actually help grow some of their own food in pots at home," Shewfelt said. "Even if they have an apartment, they can grow them in pots, tomato plants and stuff."

The welding projects, grant and greenhouse all mean good news for the food bank.

"It is going to completely change the way we are able to fairly distribute our food throughout the day," she said. "This just really is going to be amazing."

Community Action Partnership is gearing up for the Thanksgiving distribution, which takes place Nov. 19 to 22. Shewfelt is expecting to assist at least 2,500 families in Kootenai County. Sign-up for assistance is closed, but volunteers to help with the distribution are still needed. To volunteer, call 770-3017.