Cd’A, Post Falls food banks instituting new policies as they meet demand while maintaining safety

Food banks in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls are making food distribution changes due to the coronavirus.

Darrell Rickard, program manager of the Community Action Partnership, said effective Monday, it will close its office and no longer allow people inside the food bank on Industrial Loop in Coeur d’Alene.

It is requiring that people call first and then drive over. About every hour or so, CAP staff or volunteers will bring food to cars.

“They won’t be able to pick the food they want but they will get food,” Rickard said.

Leslie Orth, Post Falls Food Bank director, said starting today, people must fill out a grocery order form indicating what they would like and will be required to wait outside.

After food bank staff fills the order as best they can, they will bring it to them.

“They have a personal shopper in us,” Orth said.

Both food banks reported receiving numerous calls recently asking if they were still open and would continue operations. Both answered they are open and plan to stay that way unless ordered to do otherwise.

Rickard said the CAP food bank, which helps about 3,500 people a month, was very busy Monday and Tuesday, with about 150 people both days.

It slowed dramatically Wednesday and Thursday, perhaps because people were scared to venture out of their homes, Rickard said.

The food bank has been sanitizing often, and has been allowing eight to 10 people at one time inside to select food. Volunteers and staff are washing hands and keeping safe distances.

“We’re working really hard to keep things safe,” he added.

He said the food bank is maintaining its supplies, but donations from large grocery stores are down due to the rush of shoppers clearing shelves.

Still, he anticipates CAP will meet what is expected to be a rising demand for food.

“We’ll do everything we can to keep on feeding the public,” he said.

Rickard added that he is sensing people are getting more worried about the coronavirus.

“People are starting to take it more and more seriously,” he said.

The requirement that people must call ahead and wait outside had to be made, Rickard said, for the good of staff, volunteers, and clients.

“We’re protecting everybody by not having the public coming in here,” he said.

He said in his two years as director, this has been his biggest challenge. Many seniors have stopped volunteering and are staying home.

Rickard said he’s not sure what’s ahead, but knows the food bank and its small staff will do its best to be there for those who need it.

“We will be here as long as we possibly can and do everything to get the food out to them,” he said.

Orth said the phones have been ringing off the hook at the Post Falls Food Bank, with almost everyone wanting to know if they are closed.

“We’re pretty overwhelmed here,” she said.

But the food bank, she said, is committed to being open.

In the wake of the coronavirus, the Post Falls Food Bank was requiring people to give their name, cell number and call ahead, or the make and model of their car and wait outside, and they would be contacted when it was their turn to shop at the food bank’s 3rd Avenue Market.

Three shoppers were being allowed in at one time, with a 15-minute limit.

Today, a new policy begins.

People will not be allowed inside. Shoppers will be required to fill out a grocery form, wait outside, and food bank staff will shop for them.

“We’re limiting exposure,” Orth said.

Supplies of perishable and nonperishable food are holding steady, but if need be, Orth is ready to use money marked for operations to buy more food.

“Job one is to keep everyone safe and be sure everyone has food,” she said.

Orth said they are seeing more people who have lost their jobs and are feeling the effects of the economic downturn.

“They’re in need of us even more,” she said.

While all are welcome, those in the hospitality industry, particularly impacted by the coronavirus, are encouraged to visit the Post Falls Food Bank weekly. It will allow them to save money on groceries, Orth said, so they can pay other bills.

“If you’re in that industry, come on in,” she said.

Orth said as the situation evolves she is seeing more anxiety and frustration.

“People are just scared,” she said.

But she added that she believes common sense will prevail, noting that the majority of their guests are “awesome.”

“They’re really wonderful and understanding and patient with the precautions we are taking,” she said.