Fremont County philanthropist opens his home to help local food bank - East Idaho News
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Fremont County philanthropist opens his home to help local food bank

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ST. ANTHONY — A Fremont County man is helping local food bank efforts by donating his time and volunteering his house.

Every month, Doug Olsen and his family, open their home to the community as the mobile location for Idaho Food Bank deliveries.

“Basically anyone who feels like they could use some help with their food budget just shows up and signs in, and we put the food in their car,” Olsen said.

On the second Thursday of every month the Idaho Food Bank in Pocatello, sends a semi-truck load of food to help those in need in Fremont County. Some 14,000 pounds of food are unloaded outside of the old Girls Reformatory, now the Olsen home, arranged by an assembly line of volunteers and packed into boxes.

Prior to the Olsen’s volunteer service people had to stand in line and wait to pick up a package of food, but since then distribution has been expedited. People pull up through the half circle drive-way and volunteers load boxes of fresh goods and produce into their cars.

“It always makes you feel good when you have an opportunity to do service,” Olsen said. “It’s nice when you can do something real in a substantial way.”

Olsen got involved after volunteering at the the first mobile food delivery in St. Anthony last December. Towards the end of the event he overheard Idaho Food Bank Branch Manager Rebecca Ristrem saying they could make larger deliveries if there was a place for people to drive through.

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“You know it just got the wheels turning in my head and I thought well we could pull through at my place,” Olsen said.

Ristrem said Doug’s service has had a great impact on the Fremont community.

“Doug Olsen volunteered at our first mobile. He saw the need and stepped up to the plate,” Ristrem said.

Over the summer, Olsen along with volunteers have helped supply food to 225 households serving roughly 600 to 800 people per month.

The Idaho Food Bank is a non-profit organization and does not receive any government funding. However, they do receive donations from local businesses and individuals which help them allocate food to those in need. They also are accredited members of Feeding America – a non-profit nationwide network for food banks that provide food to millions of people.

Each month, the food bank service draws 30 to 50 volunteers to the St. Anthony area.

“It’s amazing what they’re doing here. I think it’s really bringing the community together. It creates a great sense of unity and love in the community,” volunteer Elias Linares said.

Linares volunteers as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Olsen anticipates his home becoming a local pantry where food can be stored and eventually picked up by those who need the food.

There isn’t a qualification process to benefit from this monthly service, and everyone is welcome to use the service. Food is handed out every second Thursday of the month at 2266 E. 600 N. in St. Anthony. For information visit https://idahofoodbank.org.

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