Chinook Food Pantry recognized for efforts to reduce hunger
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(l-r) Jeanne Dalton, Director of the Chinook Food Pantry and Amelia Funk, former director, pose with Montana First Lady Lisa Bullock during the recent awards ceremony held by the Montana Food Bank Network. Funk and Dalton accepted the "Lewis and Clark Award: For Discovering Ways to Fight Hunger" on behalf of the Blaine County community. It was the first time the prestigious award was given to an entire geographic area.
Jeanne Dalton and Amelia Funk were recently in Helena representing the Chinook Food Pantry at a statewide ceremony. Dalton is the current director of the local food bank, since January, 2016, and Funk was the first director, serving from 2000 until she retired in late 2015. The two received awards on behalf of the Food Pantry at the biennial awards ceremony of the Montana Food Bank Network. Individuals and food banks are nominated for the awards. Montana First Lady Lisa Bullock presented the awards.
Amelia Funk was awarded the "Treasure State Award: For the Most Treasured Volunteer." Information about the award described Funk as "always the face of the Chinook Food Pantry." Organized in 1998 by the Chinook Ministerial Association, the group operated without a director until Funk accepted the leadership challenge in 2000. The nomination letter went on to say, "She is a caring friend to each client, treating everyone with dignity and concern." Funk is still an active volunteer with the Food Pantry, one of two food banks currently operating in Blaine County.
A more general award, the "Lewis and Clark Award: For Discovering Ways to Fight Hunger," was made to the "Blaine County Community" and accepted by current director Jeanne Dalton. Blaine County was recognized for its varied approaches to supporting its food program. Activities mentioned included hunters donating wild game and ranchers donating large quantities of beef. County-based organizations, including churches, youth groups, the volunteer fire and EMS departments and area residents, conduct regular food drives to keep the food pantry supplied.
In an earlier interview for the "Journal," Dalton had noted that donated foodstuffs from the Montana Food Bank Network, gifts through the Town Pump Charitable Foundation and locally written grants provide the basics for the funding of the food bank. She added, "The rest of our support comes from local donors. Some people make cash donations, which allows us to shop for things we can't get through the Food Network. During the summer we have several donors who provide fresh produce from their gardens." While these efforts are not unique to Blaine County, they were described by the Food Bank Network judges as "commendable for the size and economic status of the county itself."
The Food Pantry is located at 112 6th Street W (the American Legion building) in Chinook. For more information about the food programs, opportunities to volunteer or how to donate to the Food Pantry, contact Jeanne Dalton at 357-2799 or call the Food Pantry (357-3805) on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The "Journal" congratulates the Food Pantry, and the volunteers who keep the facility operating, for this statewide recognition. Great job.!
