SPOKANE, Wash. – The West Plains Chamber of Commerce is partnering with First Interstate Bank to hold a community food drive to collect food for families at Fairchild Air Force Base.
The food drive will be on October 15 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the First Interstate Bank branch in Airway Heights at 11917 West Sunset Highway.
The drive aims to collect nonperishable, shelf-stable foods. In their announcement about the drive, West Plains Chamber of Commerce suggested items like canned soup, chili, ramen, pasta, beans and other similar foods.
The food will be donated to the Fairchild Food Pantry, which serves active-duty personnel, their defendants and other base families. The pantry is run by volunteers and focuses on military families in need.
“Especially in times of financial uncertainty, the pantry is a vital safety net for military families who face unique pressures, from childcare to everyday household costs,” West Plains Chamber of Commerce added in their release.
West Plains Chamber of Commerce said the drive is responding to “the recent federal government shutdown and its impacts on military pay and benefits.”
Airmen and people whose paychecks come from government funding . President Donald Trump addressed the issue and .
The release by West Plains Chamber of Commerce said that Trump’s directive is expected to keep the paychecks coming, “the continuation of funds may depend of how long the shutdown endures.”
“Even when paychecks arrive, many service members and their families still struggle to put meals on the table,” they added.
They encouraged businesses that bring donations to leave a business card to their generosity could be recognized.
