Boundary County churches unite for summer food drive

Boundary County churches are joining forces to help stock local food pantry shelves during the annual Boundary County Interfaith Food Drive, scheduled for Tuesday, June 30. 

Community members are invited to bring nonperishable food donations between 1 and 3 p.m. to Community Action Partnership, located at 6665 Main St., Bonners Ferry. Organizers emphasize that participation is open to everyone, regardless of church affiliation. 

The food drive comes at a critical time of year for many families. When school lets out for the summer, children who rely on free school breakfasts and lunches often lose access to those meals, increasing demand on local food assistance programs. 

Organizers hope to collect 2,000 pounds of food during the drive. Unlike some donation campaigns, the effort is not structured as a competition between participating congregations. 

"Every can and box counts the same, and we only celebrate the combined total our community brings in," organizers said in event information. 

Requested donations include cereal, peanut butter, canned soup, beans, vegetables, fruit, pasta and sauce, tuna, macaroni and cheese, juice boxes, fruit cups, and snacks. Personal care items such as shampoo, soap, and toilet paper are also needed. 

Churches interested in participating can register through the Interfaith Food Drive website. 

For more information, including a complete list of requested items, visit interfaithfooddrive.com.