Every Friday, employees at the Winter Ridge Market in Sandpoint help move three to four large boxes of product onto a truck.  

Once loaded with everything from produce to canned foods, the truck leaves Winter Ridge and makes the five-minute journey to the Bonner Community Food Bank. Thanks to donations from local grocers like Winter Ridge, people facing food insecurity in Bonner County can find healthy and fresh options at the community food bank.

"Everybody here that works here hates to hear that there are neighbors in our town that are suffering when it comes to food,” Vanessa Stanley, grocery manager at Winter Ridge said. “Everyone should have access to food; that’s the foundation of Winter Ridge. Everyone should have access to clean, nutritious food that you would feel good about giving to your family.” 

Stanley said the items that Winter Ridge donates aren’t items that have gone bad, but product they feel isn’t fit for the shelves. That can range from a healthy head of lettuce with brown spots to a dinged can of soup that otherwise would have been thrown away. 

Making donations to the food bank is personal for Stanley, whose mother used to give her time to BCFB. She said donating food allows the business to complete a circle with the community. 

"It’s at the heartbeat of the store,” Stanley said. “We are able to do our jobs because of the community so we get to do our jobs that then gives back to the community.” 

Ana Kampe, volunteer coordinator at BCFB, said that donations like the ones from Winter Ridge keep the food bank feeling like a grocery store. 

“It’s essentially what you see in a grocery store, it just varies,” Kampe said of the food bank. “We don’t have a standing order for broccoli or grapes, but if the grocery store has an excess of grapes that aren’t moving, they’ll donate them to us.” 

Stanley said finding items for the food bank is critical during the holiday times and that she always tries to find seasonal items to donate. 

“This time of year, is the best time of year, and it’s heartbreaking to think that some people might have to sacrifice that,” Stanley said. “We’re going to be doing everything we can internally to push [seasonal items] toward the food bank.” 

Giving back to the community is centered to the mission of Winter Ridge Market and donating to the food bank is just one of the ways the business aims to support residents. Stanley said the business routinely offers opportunities for customers to round-up their purchases for non-profits. 

Stanley said that a recent drive raised around $2,000 for the local non-profit Food For Our Children, which helps work toward ending childhood hunger in Bonner County. According to the Food For Our Children website, that amount is enough to feed 400 children for a weekend.  

Throughout the holiday season, Winter Ridge Market will have a special box and a list of items BCFB needs so customers can donate items as well, Stanley said.  

Much like Winter Ridge, the Samuels Store and Blue Heron Cafe have a focused effort at assisting local non-profits and the BCFB. Jered Heigis, general manager of the store and cafe, said the business donated around $17,000 to non-profits last year. 

"We don’t see much of a better way than making sure people are fed and have what they need in that way,” Heigis said. “We get supported by the local community coming in here daily and it’s important that we give back to them.” 

Stanley said that donating food to BCFB reinvigorates her passion and love for her job at Winter Ridge. She said knowing parents and families depend on the food bank and being able to help them is special. 

"Knowing that the food bank is here and covers so much... I’m able to contribute in my role at the store just makes my heart feel better about the current state of the world,” Stanley said. “It renews that passion of ‘This is why we are here’ and working at Winter Ridge.”