No place like home: Wallace Food Bank looks for new location

WALLACE — The Wallace Food Bank is searching for a new place to call home. 

Last winter, the nonprofit began looking for a new building that better fit their needs, but the clock is now ticking down on locating a new spot to base their operations. For years, the group has called the Prayer Station basement home, but the church’s lease expired at the end of 2024 and their future tenure at the Fourth Street venue is uncertain. 

With that loose thread in mind, food bank president Michael Hoffman is appealing to the community to find a new venue.  

Their dream building would be about 1,500 square feet and based on the ground level so that there is no barrier to accessing the building with mobility issues.  

The next food distribution date is still slated for Thursday Jan. 16 and there are no plans to store food. 

The food bank has been checking with other local churches about the possibility of relocating, but the group so far has struck out on venues that had an availability or interest. 

“We’re not leaving or out yet,” Hoffman said. 

At the December distribution day, the Wallace Food Bank helped outfit 93 individuals with food.

Hoffman said the agency is still waiting to hear back if they will be able to continue operations or be completely without a facility to help feed people struggling with food insecurity in the Silver Valley.

The group is also looking for new volunteers to help with distribution, inventory, social media, grant writing, communications, events, treasurer/financial, media/marketing and joining the nonprofit’s governing board.   

Over the last year and a half, the food bank has added a refrigerator and freezer to be able to take on fresh food from the Post Falls Food Bank as well as nonperishable items. 

Community partnerships for the food bank have also added Eat Smart Idaho demonstrations and samples as well as seasonal recipe cards through the University of Idaho. 

Food distribution takes place from 3-5 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at 214 N. Second St., Osburn and from 3 to 5 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at 215 Fourth St., Wallace.

For more information about potential locations or to find out more about how to help, contact Michael Hoffman at 916-764-9252 or by email at wallacefoodbank@gmail.com.  

    The Wallace Food Bank is looking for a new home with more accessibility than currently available at 215 4th St, Wallace.
  

    The Wallace Food Bank served 93 people at its last distribution day of the year in December.