Annual ELF Drive hitting the streets Wednesday, Thursday

Havre's annual E.L.F. Food Drive, with local firefighters going door-to-door in the city collecting non-perishable food items for donation to the Havre Community Food Bank, is happening Wednesday and Thursday.

Havre Fire Fighters union IAFF Local 601 Vice President Cody McLain said the fire department will be taking to the streets with lights and sirens 5:30-7:30 p.m. each night, or until they make their way down all streets. And they are splitting their focus into two areas again this year.

"We are going to do the west side of Fifth Avenue on the third, on Wednesday night, and the east side on Thursday night," McLain said.

He asked that people put their bags of food items on their front step and leave their porch light on so firefighters know which houses to stop at. This year, because of COVID-19 restrictions, the firefighters will be doing the collection without volunteers.

"We, unfortunately can't take any with us in the trucks this year, so if people want to volunteer they can show up at HRDC around 5:30 or 6 (p.m.)," he said.

As much as a dozen firefighter union members will be turning out to help with collection and making runs in personal vehicles to the District 4 HRDC building where Havre Food Bank volunteers will be accepting the donations, he said.

Alma Garcia, Havre Food Bank director and HRDC Housing director, said that volunteers are still needed to help at HRDC, at the north doors, 2229 Fifth Ave. Volunteers will pack all the donations into HRDC, check everything for expiration dates, sort the foods and then haul everything to the food bank.

This food drive is a crucial part of making the Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets - distributed in conjunction with Salvation Army - a real help and treat for local individuals and families in need, Garcia said, and helping feed people through the winter.

"Last year our numbers were very low due to COVID ... but this year we hope for more community buy-in (during the E.L.F. Drive)," she added, because not only have donations been down the past few months, but also some of the other major annual food drives just haven't been held in the past few years due to the pandemic.

"The postal drive, we haven't had one in 2020 or in 2021. The Ford peanut butter drive, we didn't have one in 2019, 2020 and, of course, 2021. So we're - we're running a little low," she said.

Along with non-perishable foods associated with the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, including holiday breakfast and snacks, the food bank is in need of everyday food items, such as canned tuna and other canned meats, ramen noodles and other pastas, peanut butter and chili beans.

"We like holiday-specific foods because they make the baskets we provide along with the Salvation Army that much more special," she said, but they also make these meals work with what is at hand.

And they try to pair up foods to make a complete meal, or day's celebration, she added.

In 2018, the last big E.L.F. Drive saw more than 6,000 pounds of food donated. While food donations were down significantly in 2020, demand was high because money was tight for a lot of people - 139 food baskets were handed out, compared to about 35 in a normal year. The food bank had to rely on CARES Act funding, along with significant donations from local businesses, to meet this need.

Along with the E.L.F. Drive, Havre Food Bank is participating in Town Pump's fundraising program Montanans Helping Montanans for 20 Years that will provide matching dollars to the food bank.

"If anyone is unable to donate food, we are still taking donations for the Town Pump match donation which runs through the end of November," she said. "Town Pump is matching up to $12,500 for every dollar that is donated to the Havre Community Food Bank until the end of November."

People can donate money at Havre Town Pump, Havre Food Bank or District 4 HRDC and online with a credit card at https://www.classy.org/give/367539/#!/donation/checkout . This link is also found on the District 4 HRDC Facebook page.

Monetary donations help with operating expenses, she said, and "they keep the lights on."

The E.L.F. food drive has been a tradition in Havre for more than 30 years, McLain said.

"We just do it before the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, or right at the holiday season. Try to pack up the food bank for the holidays is the goal for the E.L.F. food drive," McLain said.

"We appreciate everyone helping, looking out for us. We'll have our lights and sirens on," he added.

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Non-perishable food donations

West of 5th Avenue, Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m.

East of 5th Avenue, Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Food Basket sign-up

People who want to sign up for the holiday food baskets can contact The Salvation Army-Havre Service Center at 406-265-6411 to make an appointment or stop by at 328 Third St. during business hours, right now Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to noon and Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to start their application process.