Naples Food Cupboard provides, needs help

BONNERS FERRY — A person or family does not need to be homeless, or lazy, or irresponsible, to need help. Many people across the country and in our own community live paycheck to paycheck. One small circumstance — whether it be losing a job, a cut in hours, a medical bill, or unexpected car repair — can leave a person or family struggling.

The Naples Food Cupboard, now in its seventh year of operation, is trying to lend a hand to those who live within the South Boundary Fire Protection District that need help getting through a difficult time.

The food is available for those in need every Thursday, from 2-3:30 p.m. in an outbuilding owned by South Boundary Fire. South Boundary donates the space, heating, and electricity for lights, freezers and refrigerators to the cupboard.

Linda Cromwell and Don Gay have been instrumental to the program, dedicating themselves to helping the community. Currently, the food is alternating between one week offering a full complement of food, and the next week offering breads and desserts. Their concern has been that the food they are able to provide is not as healthy as they would like.

“They have been feeding people food one week and bread the next week, because we can’t afford to feed them every week, and nor can we afford quality food because we have been living on $200 a month and donations,” explained volunteer Patty Kosters.

The Cupboard is run entirely by volunteers, receiving its funding through fundraisers, such as the annual South Boundary Firefighters Association Christmas tree sale, donations from Bonners Ferry Rotary Club and Helping Hands of Naples, and donations from community members. Community members also donate food, including fresh produce and eggs

“People in the community are amazing,” said Kosters. “People bring us food. They drop it off or just show up at the door.”

“We are so grateful for every single individual community member that comes by to drop off even a single can of milk,” said Kosters. “We want the community to know that we appreciate every single solitary item, because it goes to someone who needs help.”

Despite the help, the Cupboard has been striving to do more, and provide a higher quality, healthy food to their people in need. With the help of Certified Public Accountant Deborah Youngwirth of Youngwirth, Davis & Associates, they will soon achieve their goal of receiving a 501(c)(3).

This will open up the doors for the Cupboard to be able to write and apply for grants, expanding their ability to help.

“We can really give them quality food- meats, potatoes, not just garbage food to fill in the blank,” explained Kosters.

According to a report written by the Cupboard, in 2015 and 2016, 75 to 90 families, comprising of 264 to 276 people, received food through them.

“An average family visited the Cupboard nine times in both years and received services for four to five months during the year,” said the report. “However, 25 to 30 percent of the families using the Cupboard in these two years did so for more than six months.”

The big concern for many is that people will rely on the help long term, rather than use it to stabilize themselves, when in fact, this is most often not the case. Kosters said that many individuals and families only used the service for a short period of time, and in turn, they have returned to volunteer their time or donate food.

Of the more long term type that utilizes the Cupboard are people on fixed incomes or low-income residents who lack reliable transportation to access the Bonners Ferry food bank.

Along with the opportunities that the 501c3 will offer, to expand the service, the Cupboard will also benefit from the future Fire Station Administration and Community Building that will be going in at the Naples Fire Station. The project will begin this year and when complete, the Cupboard will make its home there, with its own private entrance.

“It will be amazing to be able to be in a place where we can function,” said Kosters. “We are eking out an existence where we are.”

The people who run and volunteer their time to better those lives in the community who need a helping hand, look forward to the future of the Naples Food Cupboard.

“Those of us with a heart for this, really want to impact lives and make a difference, and touch people,” said Kosters.

For more information about the Naples Food Cupboard: Linda Cromwell, 925-381-8314, or Patty Kosters, 602-717-1919