SANDPOINT — Thanks to one of the business’ largest fundraising efforts since it opened, the Sandpoint Arby's donated $1,500 to the Bonner Community Food Bank.

Anna Kampe, volunteer coordinator at BCFB, said donations like these are critical to the food bank’s operation. She said the food bank has seen its intake nearly double at both its Sandpoint and Priest River locations since concerns were raised around SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown last month. 

"It raised awareness about food insecurity in our community and provided an opportunity for citizens to step in and care for each other,” Kampe said.  

Monetary donations like these are primarily used to purchase shelf-stable food in bulk, Kampe said. From canned chicken and tuna, BCFB tries to stretch their donation dollars as far as possible. 

Kampe said the holiday season is always a great fundraising time for the food bank, but as that passes, large donations are key to continuing to stock the shelves. In just the first week of the food bank’s Thanksgiving bag program, Kampe said they have provided over 500 families with a bag to ensure they have a festive meal this year. 

"We can call on donations like the ones we received today and it’s like ‘Yeah, we did get a really generous check, and we can purchase the items,’” Kampe said. “In February when donations have diminished, we can call on that.” 

The food bank sources all its fresh produce and meat from the five major grocery stores in the region through its grocery rescue program. 

Kampe said grocers donate items that don’t meet the stores’ shelf standards and that the food is still fresh and edible. The program helps BCFB provide fresh ingredients to the community without having a standing order for produce and reducing costs. 

Customers at Arby’s were able to round up on their order to donate to a jar on the counter. Stacy Johnson, Arby’s manager, said they picked the food bank for their drive this year because of her personal experience with the local community. 

"Arby’s has their own charity, but I want to keep it local,” Johnson said. “I have a lot of young mothers that struggle and the food bank has come in handy for them and myself when I was younger too, raising my children.” 

Johnson said she believes the focus and awareness on SNAP benefits greatly benefited their fundraising efforts. Hope Ayres, an Arby’s employee, said customers often cited their own experience with the food bank as their reason for rounding up. 

"We’d say do you want to round up a dollar and [customers] would say ‘No, $50,’” Ayres said. “When I would talk to customers they would say ‘I’ve struggled, I’ve gone to the food bank, and they helped me through those times,’ and they wanted to give back to the community.” 

For more information and hours for the Sandpoint and Priest River locations head to bonnerfoodbank.org.