COEUR d’ALENE — More than 20 pallets of white boxes were stacked tall Thursday morning in the parking lot of Lake City Center in Coeur d’Alene.

The boxes were each packed with 8 pounds of potatoes, 10 pounds of apples and 3 pounds of onions, ready to go home with anyone in need of a few extra staples in their pantry.

“I’m taking this for Lifeway Chapel Church in Post Falls,” said George Wilson, whose car was loaded up by volunteers.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity for a lot of families that are really having a struggle right now with this pandemic,” he said. “This will help them out; hey don’t have to run to the grocery store to get some of this.”

Debi Cure of Coeur d’Alene was pleased to share the bounty with one of her clients whose home she cleans. She heard about the distribution on the radio on her way.

“I think it’s awesome. Even when they were doing that with Duncan Produce over in Spokane when all this was going on there, you could go over there and buy because they weren’t delivering to the restaurants,” Cure said. “With this stuff here, this pandemic, it’s never bothered me at all. I’m a former CNA.”

About 100 people came through in the first hour of the giveaway, with more trickling in throughout the day. Friendly volunteers guided guests through the parking lot and happily filled their cars and trucks with the produce packages.

“If we can get it to the families, it’s not going to go to waste,” said volunteer Alan Pettit.

Lake City Center administrative director Marlys Silva was determined to distribute the more than 3,200 pounds of produce that had been sent by eastern Washington farmers through the USDA CARES Act.

“I’ll make sure it goes somewhere,” she said. “I think it’s a great program. It would have gone to the grocery stores, but grocery stores aren’t getting as much.

“Through the CARES Act, they’re able to distribute to charities and nonprofits, and then the farmers get paid,” Silva said. “It’s a win-win for everybody. I think it’s a really valuable package.”