Loaves and Fishes pantry shelves bareExpect your doorbell to ring Wednesday night.While it's still too early for trick-or-treaters, hundreds of youth will hit Powell's streets Wednesday night from 5:30-8 p.m. for the annual food drive. Going door to door, young volunteers will collect food donations to replenish bare shelves at Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes.

“If you're not going to be home, leave the porch light on with a sack (of donations) on the porch,” said Cindy Balderas, treasurer for Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes.

Youth will have envelopes addressed to Loaves and Fishes (P.O. Box 992, Powell), and residents can send monetary donations at their convenience.

Kids with the Boys and Girls Club will collect donations from 4-5:30 p.m. in the area around the club.

Though Wednesday's drive focuses on homes within city limits, Balderas encouraged rural residents to drop off food donations in the barrels at Blair's Market or Food Basket IGA. Food items must be professionally prepared.

The pantry relies on local donations, especially in recent months, with more residents utilizing Loaves and Fishes.

“We've been hit — we've been hit pretty good,” Balderas said.

In June, the pantry served 75 families and a total of 260 people. That spiked to 88 families and 335 individuals in July, followed by 90 families and 331 people in August.

“Basically, we're out of food once again ... we had tremendous usage in the summer,” Balderas said.

During summer months, usage typically is higher with kids at home more and without school lunches.

Though usage peaks in the summer, it remained high in September, with 78 families and 272 individuals using the pantry.

“We are just running out of food,” Balderas said. “The economy is bad, and (usage) is higher than last year. We've just seen a steady increase.”

The autumn event is Loaves and Fishes' main food drive. The organization also depends on the U.S. Postal Service's spring food drive and Northwest College's Empty Bowls fundraiser, which will take place next spring rather than this fall.

“As a note to hunters, if they want to share some of their meat, that would be good,” Balderas said.

From hunters who donate game meat to school kids who collect donations during the food drive to local churches that assist the pantry, Balderas said the organization appreciates the community's continued support.

“We've been tremendously blessed by Park County commissioners, that they've given us space at the annex,” Balderas said.

Balderas also reiterated her appreciation for staff members at the annex, who assist with distributing food to residents.

Residents in need can pick up Loaves and Fishes food once a month from 9-11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday at the Park County Annex.

For those who would like to help with Loaves and Fishes, Balderas said there is a need for volunteers.

“We have a really solid group of volunteers and board of directors, and we're always looking for people who want to be involved,” she said.

For volunteer information, contact Julie Fulton at 754-4231 or Balderas at 754-2641.