Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Volunteers at the Valley County Food Bank pose with Jon Bengochea of the Knights of Columbus after the organization donated $3,000 so the charity could purchase hams for families for the Christmas season. Pictured left to right are: Pat Hallett, Joe Vanderwoude, Jon Bengochea, Laurie Koessl, Brenda Tarum, Nancy Bowman, Marilyn Smith and Lee Erickson.
"To be quite honest, I'm blown away by it." Those were the grateful words from Pat Hallett who volunteers at the Valley County Emergency Food Bank regarding the $3,000 donated by the Knights of Columbus. "They did that so we could buy meat for December and January. Awesome, just awesome."
Jon Bengochea, of the Knights of Columbus, was happy to be able to help the local volunteers, though slightly reluctant to claim the limelight. "We're a charitable organization," he said. He noted the group operates in obscurity most of the time, but sometimes it is nice to let the community know the Knights are active here.
He added the group raises a lot of money each year, most of it at their annual fish fry, and they try to put those funds back in the community. He noted that they have donated to the Connection and to the Snack Pack Program in the past. Bengochea said the Knights chose the Food Bank because the infrastructure is already set up and the volunteers work hard, "We could just support them financially. It was a flat donation so they could buy whatever they wanted."
The generosity of the Knights won't end with the donation. Bengochea said the group has committed to providing volunteers to help with distribution at the Food Bank each month. "We will continue to do whatever we can," he said.
Hallett expressed gratitude to the Knights and to the greater community for their donations. "Donations have been, I know I keep using this word, but awesome, this fall," she told the Courier. "We are getting so much more than we normally get."
She stressed that the food bank here operates solely on donations and volunteers, as the charitable group receives no tax money to supplement their operations. Monetary donations go towards purchasing food, albeit at reduced costs. Volunteers make the difference for the organization. Hallett said, "We have a group that works hard and it's so nice when people help us out."
Bengochea was keen to point out that the photo opportunity and story were done at the behest of food bank volunteer Joe Vanderwoude. "We aren't too public," he said, "but I guess sometimes it's good that people know who we are and what we do."
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