COEUR d’ALENE — Those empty food bank shelves didn't stay bare for long.

Once Coeur d'Alene Community Action Partnership Food Bank manager Nicol Barnes announced to the community the food bank was in trouble, the generous donations flooded in.

"I just feel relieved and just proud to be a part of this community where we put a call out and people respond in this way," Barnes said Monday. "It's pretty amazing."

In a Feb. 4 Press article, Barnes expressed an extreme need for food items during a dire dip in donations. When people found out how bad it was, they jumped to the task. Donations for the month of February 2017 were at 8,103 pounds as of midday Monday, passing February 2016's numbers by 2,551 pounds.

Donating entities include: Canfield Middle School, 1,289 pounds; WildLand CrossFit; 500 pounds; Lutheran Church of the Master, 142 pounds; Community United Methodist Church, 134 pounds; Kootenai Health, 200 pounds; TOPS Club, 157 pounds; and many more.

"We have a lot of individual people and just families who saw the article and wanted to help," Barnes said. "One gentleman and his son went to Costco, and dropped off several cases of food."

Coeur d'Alene Rotary collected food and funds for the food bank at each Friday meeting this month. The Rotarians raised more than $1,000 and donated 283 pounds of food.

"It is quite amazing to live in this community," said Coeur d'Alene Rotary local community service committee chair Ashley Lenz. "It just goes to show how great this community is because we saw a need and everyone rallied to help the less fortunate. It's wonderful."

Barnes said several other food drives and fundraisers are in progress or coming up, including those conducted by Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities, Alliance Data, Capone's Coeur d'Alene, Liberty Tax and others.

After meeting with Barnes last week, community leader and volunteer Evalyn Adams announced she would continue the work of former Turkeys For All under the name Turkeys and More to ensure the food bank is stocked with plenty of turkeys this Thanksgiving. Adams will broaden the scope of the mission and hopes to recruit enough volunteers to raise funds to help with the turkeys in addition to other needs.

"They have a variety of needs. For example, the freezer truck they keep the turkeys in is broken down and needs repair," Adams said. "I'm just excited to help and I hope others will be excited. It's nothing that one person can do. It will take a group or a committee. I want it to be fun, and I want it to be something that people feel really good about.

"I just want people to know there's a need. I certainly could see that when I was there," she continued. "There's enough caring people in this community that could make a difference to help."

To donate or get involved with Turkeys and More, contact Adams at 765-5535 or evalynera@hotmail.com.

"There are so many giving people in this community who are willing to help other people," Barnes said. "It just inspires me every day."

A Barn Dance Fundraiser to benefit the food bank will be held March 25 from 6-9 p.m. in Meadowbrook Hall, 8088 W. Meadowbrook Loop, Coeur d'Alene. Tickets are $8 for adults and free for those 12 and younger.

Barn Dance Fundraiser info: 416-1534 or cjsbeach@cmail.com