CANtastic is a unique event where teams build structures out of food (mostly cans), which are then judged and displayed during those dates.

All food and proceeds will benefit the Great Falls Community Food Bank.  This year the teams are: Masonic Lodge of Cascade County, Giant Springs Chapter of Federal Credit Unions, C M Russell High School Key Club and Great Falls High School Key Club.  Judging takes place on March 9^th and the public is invited to “purchase a vote” for their favorite at $1.00 a vote.  The team receiving the most votes will win the People’s Choice Award.

Also included in this year’s event is an art contest by 6^th graders from Longfellow, Whittier, West, and Sunnyside Elementary Schools.  The 1^st place winner will receive a $150 gift card, the 2^nd place winner will receive a $75 gift card and the 3^rd place winner will receive a $50 gift card.

This is in support of the Backpack Program, through the  Food 4 Kids Program initiated by the Food Bank in August of 2011.  The Backpack Program consists of ready-to-eat, kid-friendly, shelf-stable meals that chronically hungry children take home on week-ends and holidays.  It costs the Food Bank $150.00 to distribute these backpacks for a school year to one child.  The public and businesses are invited to donate $150.00 to the “Backpack Program” of the Food Bank.  Each entity donating that money will receive a poster by a 6^th grader for their donation.

People can come any time during Holiday Village Mall hours to see the structures and the artwork March 9 – 13, 2013.  Voting will only take place, however, on March 9^th.

We would like to thank DA Davidson & Co. for their generous support of this event as a Premier Sponsor.  We would also like to thank CTA Architects and Engineers for sponsoring the design work for the teams.

As the saying goes “time flies when you’re having fun.” If that’s true, the Food Bank is having a party!

After more than seven months, we are nearing the end of our renovation project. Staff moved into offices in early July and the two tenant areas are completed and occupied. We expect to have two additional offices, market area and re-pack room completed by the end of this month. Mark your calendar for our Open House on October 23.

With the implementation of the Food4Kids Program last year, we have expanded by becoming a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program. We conducted our first pilot site in July at First English Lutheran Church. Headstart served as the production kitchen and the church provided activities for the children coming for lunch. Because this program was new in the neighborhood, it took time to get the word out. By at one point, we were serving nearly 40 children. We plan to expand the length of time and number of sites for the summer of 2013 to help hungry children during the summer break.

Last but not least, the Food Bank held it’s first car raffle drawing the lucky winner on August 31st. Congratulations to Becky Bruns, winner of the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am. Thanks to Mary and Jerry Lehman for donating the vehicle!

One of our challenges in this ever-changing enviroment of emergency food assistance is keeping our community up-to-date and informed.  For anyone following us already on Facebook, that is one approach.  We also are on Twitter (gffoodbank) and have a website.  But we want to do our best to cover all the bases.  Hence, the birth of our first blog.

Of course, our first priority at the GF Food Bank is to ensure that there are adequate emergency food resources for all the agencies depending on us.  We are excited to be heading on a new course to do this better by expanding and renovating our facilities.  The project started in January and we are about half-way done.  Meals on Wheels upgrades will be done tomorrow and we expect to have Fish in their new space by the end of June.  In the meantime, we appreciate everyone’s patience while we muddle through our daily “adventure”.

We have a lot on our plates this summer and will keep up with our posts here and in other areas so you can keep up with us!  In the meantime, we always invite you to come visit us, take a tour and learn how YOUR Great Falls Community Food Bank works!

Blessings

Gayle