Food bank had 'a good year' with donations

The Havre community has once again come forward and donated food, money and work to get the Havre Food Bank through its toughest time of the year.

So says Lorna Bjerga, the food bank manager.

The community at-large, the business community and schools all came forward with donations, she said.

She was especially pleased with the increase in participation from young people.

Some schools contributed 400 to 600 pounds of food, she said.

One rancher donated a side of beef that will result in about 161 pounds of ground beef.

One of the most interesting donations was made by The Key, a store in Holiday Village Mall.

Jenna Erhard Holt of The Key combined forces with Rylee Strauser of Painted Pony Designs to make Christmas ornaments that were sold at the Key.

Holt's staff and her 4-year-old daughter, Alix, worked together to design the ornaments, all of which had a Montana theme.

The ornaments were made out of materials that were purchased at Ben Franklin, which gave the women a discount.

Holt said the staff had a good time making the ornaments and it was a valuable lesson for her daughter who learned that some people can't afford food and that it can be fun to help them out.

She said the staff is looking forward to continuing the project and maybe expanding it next year.

The monetary donations, which are especially helpful since they allow the food bank more flexibility, have increased as well, Bjerga said. The donations will last into the winter months of this year, she said, but more contributions are needed if they are to make it until the spring food drive held annually by Havre postal workers.