Phi Theta Kappa stocks local food bank during summer campaign

Completely bare shelves are not something the Community Action Food Bank in Coeur d’Alene often experiences. This summer the food bank was in such dire need of donations that they reached out to the Coeur d’Alene Press.

When Leasa Harmon, the fellowship coordinator of Phi Theta Kappa, saw the article on the front page she immediately rushed to the other officers of the club.

“Something needs to be done,” Harmon said.

With approval from the dean of students the officers decided to hold a food drive in front of the SUB immediately. Being the first weekend of August the temperatures on campus were scorching. They drew attention to their cause by handing out free bottles of water to passing by students.

“The public was very grateful,” said Paulaanna Flodquist, the fundraising coordinator of the chapter.

By the end of the weekend the club had given out just under 3000 water bottles and raised over $3500 and 328 pounds of food.

“People were walking up and writing us $200 dollar checks,” said Harmon. “We were all blown away, it was more than we ever imagined to raise.”

The food bank was so ecstatic with the results that they asked the four officers of the club to help with another fundraiser they had planned for later in the week. At the event put on by the Hayden Theater they were able to help raise over 700 more pounds of food and a few hundred more dollars.

Although the four current members will be leaving NIC at the end of the year, they urge students to join the chapter and continue to hold an annual food drive.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa and future events contact Kelly Nolan at kmnolan@nic.edu