PROGRESS: BCFB is vital hub of food access, connection

The Bonner Community Food Bank continues to serve as a vital hub of food access, dignity, and connection across Bonner County, with locations in Sandpoint and Priest River and collaborations throughout Boundary County. 

As we reflect on the past year and look ahead, we are deeply grateful for the support of our community and remain committed to meeting growing local needs with stability and care.

In 2025, our work reached 41,191 neighbors, including 10,872 children, 15,008 adults, and 15,311 seniors. These numbers represent individuals and families who turned to the food bank during times of need. Each visit reflects both challenge and resilience, and we remain focused on ensuring every person is met with dignity and respect.

Volunteers and community support remain the backbone of this work. With guidance from a 10-member board of directors and strong leadership, the food bank was supported by nearly 100 active volunteers who contributed 14,614 hours in 2025. Volunteers assist with sorting and stocking food, serving neighbors in our market, supporting events, and keeping daily operations running smoothly. Beyond their essential work, they help create a welcoming place where people can connect, contribute, and find purpose.

This year, we also strengthened our regional impact through collaboration, redistributing 111,005 pounds of food to local soup kitchens, schools, and partner organizations serving low-income households across Bonner and Boundary counties. These partnerships ensure food reaches more people efficiently through a coordinated community network.

Looking ahead to 2026, the food bank plans to expand into a larger facility to better meet growing demand. We anticipate purchasing a new building and relocating late in 2026. Our current location has served us well, but can no longer fully support the increasing volume of food, volunteers, and services needed. The move will also address reduced parking at our existing site.

Once the transition is complete, we plan to sell our current building. The new facility will allow for improved workflow, greater safety, and expanded capacity for food storage, sorting, and distribution—helping us serve neighbors more efficiently and with greater ease.

As we look to the future, our mission remains the same: to reduce food insecurity, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure that everyone who walks through our doors is treated with compassion. The need is real, but so is the strength of the community responding to it.

We are grateful for the volunteers, donors, partners, and neighbors who make this work possible, and we look forward to continuing to serve together in the year ahead.

Debbie Love is the executive director of the Bonner Community Food Bank and Ana Kampe is the food bank's volunteer coordinator.