GARDEN CITY, Idaho — On Monday, thousands of families in the Treasure Valley can now count on having a festive Thanksgiving dinner this year.
The Southwest Idaho District Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul held their Thanksgiving Box Food Program at Expo Idaho in Garden City.
"St. Vincent de Paul has done this at Thanksgiving and the last few years it has really exploded,” said Ralph May, Executive Director of SW Idaho St. Vincent De Paul. “This year, we are looking at over 2,000 families that are going to be served through this.”
May said the food program has been running for more than 40 years and this year the demand for food has been like no other.
"What we are seeing is that many families that have never have to access help before are accessing help and so that is one of the things that is a bit disturbing the fact in these certain times with Covid-19,” May said.
Potatoes, turkey, and other thanksgiving favorites are alongside fresh bottles of hand sanitizer. The charity is hoping to alleviate any of the challenges families may be facing.
“We are very blessed to be able to go ahead and served the 2,000 families this year, despite the Covid challenges that we face”, Paul explained.
Rene Ricky and her family was one of thousands of families that received the food boxes and said that the pandemic has not been easy. That’s why the effort came in a good time for her.
“The pandemic has affected us a lot, not just financially. All of my kids each have something going, they have issues. They are not adjusting well to it. I’m not adjusting well to it. So, it’s nice to have something to be thankful for,” said Ricky.
During the distribution, The Idaho National Guard presented the SW Idaho St. Vincent de Paul with a honorary frame for providing food for military families in need, throughout the years.
The executive director from SW Idaho St. Vincent de Paul said they will be distributing more food tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Expo Idaho, and people that weren’t able to sign up they can drop by.
