Community groups work to keep area youth fed in Libby, Troy

The Igniters Car Club, Libby, Troy Town Pumps and Bears ‘n Stuff banded together again this year to help make sure local rumbly, hungry tummies are getting something to eat. 

Every August the Igniters create and auction the Pedal Car at the Ignite the Nites Car Show to raise funds to help local families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Town Pump Friends In Need program delivers needed dollars across the state, matching funds raised by locals supporting their food pantries.

In total, $4,000 was presented to each of our local food pantries by the three organizations, A big growl out of thanks to everyone who took a chance on the Igniters Pedal Car raffle ticket, pumped Town Pump gas, or tossed some bucks in the Bears ‘n Stuff cookie jars.

Bears ‘n Stuff’s first community donation, five years ago, was $125 raised at Camp Creek Coffee during Girls’ Night Out. Town Pump matched that, and the yearly help with hunger relief at the food pantries began. This year Bears' fundraising season ended with bears and sloths reaching out with the We’ll Work For Food Campaign at the Libby Farmers’ Market to clear the final $700 hurdle for the organization’s contribution.

Bears ‘n Stuff works with men at Washington State Penitentiary’s Sustainable Practices Lab, where they create stuffed animals, artwork and other fine items that are offered locally to raise funds for local charities. 

They also create items used to provide direct support, like backpacks loaded with stuffed animals and quilts for kids at Lincoln County Crisis Solutions or the crochet and other goodies helping to raise bucks for meals delivered to shut-in seniors by the Senior Citizens’ Center.