Knights of Columbus Donate 100 Hams for Christmas

About 100 families waited patiently in line the afternoon of Dec. 21 to receive a food bag from the Valley Community Food Bank.

Because it was the week of Christmas, the bags included a few extra goodies, including Christmas hams. About 100 hams were donated by the Knights of Columbus (KC) from St. Raphael Catholic Parish in Glasgow.

"We give to a lot of different organizations, but we started this a couple of years ago," Grand Knight Jon Bengochea told The Courier. "KC is a fraternal charitable organization for whoever."

"They have done a lot for us," said Pat Hallett, who has been director of the food bank for the past four years, and previously was a volunteer for about three decades. "November and December are definitely the busiest. There will be way over 100 families today."

Each family received a care package that included fruit, veggies, soup, tuna fish and a ham while supplies lasted.

"We have a lot of ham," Hallett said. "And, we have buns. They are getting oranges and apples and candy. We've got a lot of extra stuff we can't give to everybody that they can pick if they want it."

"This year, we decided we wanted to do fruit, because in the olden days of Christmas, what did you get in your sock?" asked Mary Hughes, food bank board member. "An orange and an apple. We had people that donated fruit to make these bags a little bigger for the bigger families."

Because kids will be home from school for Christmas vacation, volunteers stuffed bags for families with children with kid friendly fare,

"We really try to fill out bags," Hughes said. "Brenda [Tarum} does a great job putting the bags together. During Christmas, the kids are going to be home, so lets make sure we get kids stuff in there -- raviolis and spaghetti."

There also are specialty items donated from area residents, churches and businesses offered to each family based on their tastes. Such items are considered non-essential luxury items the families otherwise might not be able to afford.

Community support is "phenomenal year round," Hughes said. "We have churches that will do challenges. That is where a lot of our free stuff comes from. We don't have enough for 100 bags, but there are so many extra things they really enjoy getting that they don't have the money to go out and buy. We just rattle off [what is available] and people say 'yes, no, maybe.' We just try to get through it because next month we will have a lot more donations. There is a drop box in both grocery stores. Various organizations in town will send money or bring canned food or cereal each month."

With so many donations, it takes a small army of volunteers to put in the leg work to get the items to families in need.

"We give to approximately 120 families a month, and that is more than 120 people," said Nanci Schoenfelder, food bank board member.

"We've got some new help, because it was just too much," Hallett said. "I haven't been able to do as much. It has been wonderful these people have come. My great-grandson is here helping. There are about six here today, but there is a lot of work that goes on all month long people don't have any idea about. Somebody has to move the food, somebody has to figure out what we need, then we have to bag it. It is an ongoing thing. There is ordering all the time. There are bills to pay. Thank yous to write. We send thank yous to everybody. We have one person who does that all the time. I believe in that."

Tarum, of Glasgow, has been a volunteer for more than two years, and puts in about 30 hours a month at the food bank, she said.

"I like to give back to our community and help those that are in need. It feels awesome."

On Dec. 21, several volunteers got to work early to ensure all the food got into the right hands.

"We do distribution from 12 to 3 p.m., but we have been here since 10 a.m. because Gordon's delivers food and we get the hams and milk and bread out," Hughes said. "What we do ahead of time is probably five or six hours of service. We get a truck that comes in and we have to unload it. We have to take everything already on the shelves in the food bank and move it forward and put the new stuff to the back. Once we get that done, then we have volunteers that come in and put the bags together for us. Then, we have volunteers come in to fill the backs."

Jory Wall, food bank board member, passed food from the to go window to each vehicle in line.

"I help load the cars," he said. "It is keeping us warm. It is good to see them get the food and how excited they are."

Hallett said it is an awesome feeling to help the 100 families get a Christmas meal.

"And, since the pandemic, we have had so much help. The donations have been great. We really appreciate our community and all the support they have given us. Merry Christmas from the Food Bank!"

To donate to the food bank send a check to P.O. Box 63, Glasgow, Montana,

The food bank is open to the public from Noon to 3 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. It is located at 1020 1st Ave. N., in Glasgow. For more information, call 406-263-3663.