Wanted: food and elbow grease

The food closet is a barometer of the economic health of Carson Valley.

"The food closet is a good indicator of who's not working in the Valley," said Carson Valley Community Food Closet Director Eileen Boettiger.

"More people are getting laid off. More people are losing homes. A couple of people get jobs then so many more lose them," she said.

The food closet has seen a 30-percent increase in need since last year.

"We helped 510 families in September - that's 1,386 people," she said. "The biggest month was 1,700 people in December 2008 and it hasn't been below 1,100 since then. Years ago we would help 340 in a month.

"Some aren't working but are too proud and don't want to ask for help. When they finally do, they're so grateful. It makes my job worth it."

The food closet receives donations of food and cash from local businesses and grocery stores, school food drives, church and civic groups, and individuals from the community. Cash donations go toward buying items from the Northern Nevada Food Bank in Reno.

"People give what they can spare," said Boettiger. "One former client watches for sales and brings in a pickup truckload every once in awhile. He knows what we need because he used to be a client. He's one of our anonymous donors. He says he doesn't want recognition. He says, 'I just want a hug.'"

Besides food, Boettiger said the food closet could use reliable and steady volunteers.

"We need at least four people here when we get a big Walmart delivery on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays," she said. "They need to help unload, organize and shelve deliveries. Volunteers are needed for bagging donuts, sorting eggs and divvying up soap, flour, sugar, beans, rice."

She said the variety of jobs available don't require special skills, although they do need people who can lift. Volunteers are needed not only for the holidays, but all during the year. They sort and fill orders, stock shelves and greet clients.

The food closet is open 12:30-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Valley resident Sheila Dill said she's been helping once a week at the food closet since last year when she read an article about how volunteers were needed.

On Wednesday, Dill sorted canned goods, shelved fresh and frozen meats and made individual packages of crackers.

"I do a little bit of everything," she said. "I work with a neat team of people and I've made friends. We share books and treats. One volunteer brings homemade tamales.

"It's good exercise and I get to do something good at the same time. The clients say 'thank you.' You feel valuable here."

To find out about donating your time at the Carson Valley Community Food Closet, call Eileen Boettiger at 782-3711.