The Tarkio/Westboro/Fairfax Food Pantry Board met Tuesday, March 13, 2019, with 12 members present. Churches represented at the meeting were Tarkio First Christian, Tarkio Baptist, Tarkio Presbyterian, Fairfax Baptist, Fairfax Methodist, Fairfax Presbyterian, Westboro Methodist and St. John’s Lutheran Church. In January, 83 individuals representing 34 families were served. In February, 119 individuals representing 48 families were assisted. It was noted that the food pantry was closed the last week in January due to weather conditions.

Severe weather conditions were also detrimental to the Food Pantry building. It was discovered that the cold weather temperatures caused the water meter in the basement of the food pantry to freeze and break open. Snow had also blown in on the west basement wall. Much volunteer work was done by Anita and Herb Sutter and Pat Whitham to improve the conditions in the basement prior to the next forecasted snowstorm.

The food pantry has been the recipient of acts of kindness from others this winter. A monetary gift was received from Enel/Rock Creek Wind Farms. The students from the Fairfax FCCLA and FFA contributed 112.7 pounds of food. The board is most appreciative of both monetary contributions and food contributions. For those interested in donating food items, the pantry is most in need of sugar, syrup, canned soups and canned fruits.

The Westboro Methodist Church will be responsible for opening the food pantry in March. The Baptist and Christian Churches of Fairfax will open the food pantry in April. The food pantry is open the third and fourth Tuesdays and Thursdays of the month from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. On the third Tuesday of each month the food pantry is open in the evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. The next board meeting will be Tuesday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. The food pantry is located at 415 Main Street in Tarkio.