Major donation caps food bank's fundraising campaign

The foundation is poured, roof trusses are up and the fundraising is complete.

The new North Valley Food Bank facility on Flathead Avenue is taking shape quicker than anyone could have imagined when the building project was first presented to the public last year.

While the construction goes on, a key financial component of the project was achieved last week when Whitefish philanthropist Mike Goguen made a $500,000 donation to complete the food bank’s $1.5 million fundraising campaign for a new building and endowment fund.

The donation adds to more than $1 million raised in cash, pledges, and in-kind donations spearheaded by the fundraising committee and board of directors.

Food bank volunteers and the fundraising team gathered Saturday to celebrate the accomplishment.

“The theme of the day is that we did it,” said fundraising committee co-chair Lin Akey. “It’s an amazing thing that in a little town great things continue to happen. And they happen because of marvelous people.”

He pointed to food bank director June Munski-Feenan and her crew of volunteers, and fundraising superstars Richard and Carol Atkinson, and John Kramer.

“This group has fingerprints all over great things,” Akey said. “Generations of people will eat because of their diligent work.”

Goguen said it was a privilege to finish out the food bank’s building campaign.

“[The food bank] very directly helps people who are in a predicament who could use a helping hand with food — there’s nothing more basic than that.”

Goguen has given millions to the Whitefish Trail, helped develop the FEAR rescue helicopter program, and made numerous contributions to area nonprofits, but helping the food bank reach its fundraising goal stands out, he said.

“I’ve tried to make impacts in a positive way. This was an opportunity to make a real difference.”

The facility will be named in Goguen’s honor.

Munski-Feenan thanked Goguen and all of the volunteers who have given time and money.

“That’s the key — volunteers,” she said. “We’ve got families that need help, and that’s our job to help them.”

Munski-Feenan said she plans to step down as director after completion of the new facility.

“Then I’m going to retire as an honorary nuisance,” she joked.

The new 4,748-square-foot distribution center will include several new and upgraded features such as an enlarged meat processing center, commercial meat grinder, covered outdoor waiting area, more freezer and cooler capacity and storage for buying food by the pallet rather than by the pound.

In 2012, the food bank supported an average of 150 households a week and provided more than 343,000 pounds of food during the year.