BOISE -- As KTVB gears up for 7Cares Idaho Shares on Saturday, December 13, we're highlighting some of the local charities and programs that will benefit from Idahoans' generous donations of money and non-perishable food items.
The Salvation Army food pantry helps thousands of people in Southwest Idaho make ends meet every year.
One of those people is Janice Beitz of Boise. She spent a morning last week filling her cart with some of her and her father's favorites.
"The staples like cereals, milk, green beans," she told us.
Beitz told us being able to head to the food pantry every 60 days makes a big difference for her family.
"I've been out of work since 2009. My dad is on limited income, we live together, share a house, and we can't qualify for food stamps," she added.
In 2013, the Salvation Army helped feed 28,000 people through its client choice pantry. That model means people can pick and choose the foods they want to take home, rather than just being given a box full of pre-packed food items.
"The challenge with just giving them a box of food is a lot of times some of those foods are not appropriate for them," said Salvation Army Major Bob Lloyd.
It's a team effort in Boise when it comes to feeding the hungry.
"The food that fills this pantry right here comes from the community," added Lloyd.
Those donations couldn't come at a better time.
"We've had unseasonably low temperatures. People have had to crank up their heat. A lot of folks are going to be getting heating bills and they're going to have to decide am I going to pay this heating bill or am I going to buy groceries? People are having to make tough decision these days," he said.
Beitz knows that struggle first hand. She told us she's had to make some tough decisions to stay afloat.
"We wouldn't have been able to keep our house over our head, our vehicle to get around if places like this didn't exist," said Beitz. "The Salvation Army, being able to provide us with food to help us get by on the limited income that we have is just invaluable."
An invaluable service fueled by the generosity of people across the Treasure Valley.
Majors at the Salvation Army say donations of proteins are very much needed right now. Peanut butter, canned chicken and tuna-- anything that's easy to store and easy to serve.
KTVB will be accepting donations of canned food at four different locations throughout our viewing area on 7Cares Idaho Shares day.
Again, it will be held Saturday, December 13 from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For more information on where to donate and how you can help, click here.
