The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to celebrate with family and friends. It can however, bring additional challenges that make enjoying the season more difficult. PCCS and our local community have some resources that can help alleviate some of the stressors that this time of year can bring. More information about these programs is provided below by Ms. Laura, our school counselor.
PCCS Resources -
PCCS Pantry - We have a small food and toiletries pantry available to all of our families. Items can be sent home with students or parents can come select items from it anytime during school hours. If there are specific items needed, let us know and we will do what we can to provide them. Contact me if you have any questions and/or would like to utilize this service.
The PCCS Annual Secret Santa/Holiday Gift Drive - available to any of our families who could use some help getting Christmas/Holiday presents for their children. All information about the families and children participating in the program remains confidential and is only known by me. If you would like to sign your family up for the drive you can fill out the sign up form found in the recent email from the school, or in your child’s Room in our school app, or you can call the school. Family Sign-Up Form - PCCS Annual Secret Santa/Holiday Gift Drive. The family sign up forms need to be submitted by Friday, November 21st. If you are interested in donating to the gift drive you can fill out the Donation Sign-Up Form - PCCS Annual Secret Santa/Holiday Gift Drive. The anonymous wish lists will be emailed to everyone who completes the donation sign up form. We are planning on having the wish lists ready to share around Thanksgiving so there is plenty of time for shopping.
Food Resources -
We still have open spots on our Idaho Food Bank Backpack Program. This program provides backpack sized food bags that go home with students on Fridays to help families stretch their food over the weekend. The food bags include 2 breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 dinner, and 2 snack options for the weekend for each child. Please let me know if you'd like to sign your family up for this helpful program.
Local Food Pantries:
Idaho Food Bank - 555 S 1st Ave, Pocatello (208) 233-8811
Food Bag: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm *small bag of food”
Rocky Mountain Ministries Compassion Center - 845 Hyde Ave, Pocatello (208) 236-0075
Food Pantry: Tuesday 9:00am - 12:00pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
The Salvation Army - 400 N 4th Ave, Pocatello (208) 232-5318
Food Pantry: Friday 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
Valley Mission Food Pantry - 408 N Arthur Ave, Pocatello (208) 232-6305
Food Pantry & Senior Food Boxes: Thursday 3:30pm - 6:00pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
St. Vincent de Paul - 855 S 2nd Ave, Pocatello (208) 478-2062
Food Pantry: Wednesday 10:00am - 1:00pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
Gate City Christian Church - 202 W Siphon Rd, Chubbuck (208) 237-5002
Food Pantry: Friday for Senior Adults: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Friday for the Public: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
Bannock County Mobile Pantry - Fort Hall - Located at 385 Bannock Trail Rd (Old Fort Hall Casino)
Mobile Pantry: 3rd Thursday of each month: 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
Idaho State University - Benny’s Pantry - 921 S 8th Ave, Pocatello (208) 282-2315
ISU Students, Faculty, & Staff Only
Food Pantry: Monday 10:00am - 2:00pm, Tuesday 1:00pm - 7:00pm, Thursday 12:00pm - 3:00pm, Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
Local Free Meal Services:
Senior Activity Center - 427 N. 6th Ave, Pocatello (208) 233-1212
Free Lunch: Tuesday - Friday 11:30am - 12:30pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
The Salvation Army - 400 N 4th Ave, Pocatello (208) 232-5318
Free Meals: Wednesday & Thursday: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
Aid For Friends - 209 E Lewis St, Pocatello (208) 232-0178
Free Meals: Monday - Saturday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Please call ahead to confirm hours
First United Methodist Church - 200 N 15th Ave, Pocatello (208) 232-1353
Free Community Meal: 2nd Saturday of each month 11:00am - 1:00pm
Crowded Table Community Meal is a non-religious shared community meal open to anyone in our community
My Brother’s Table at Trinity Episcopal Church - 355 W Lander St, Pocatello (208) 233-2640
Free Community Meal: Sunday 1:30pm - 2:30pm
My Brother’s Table is a non-religious shared community meal open to anyone in our community
The Idaho Food Bank will be providing Thanksgiving Meal Boxes again this year. The boxes typically include a turkey and many of the staple items that are used to prepare a holiday meal. Families can go to one of the 5 local pantries (underlined above) starting Monday, November 3rd to pick up a voucher for their Holiday Meal Box. The Meal Boxes will be available for pick up on Saturday, November 22nd from 11:00am -1:00pm. If you don't get a voucher but would still like to get a Meal Box, the general public access to pick them up is Saturday, November 22nd at 1:30. They will be given out on a first come, first serve basis until they are gone. Supplies are expected to be limited this year, so best to get a voucher if you are in need of a Thanksgiving Meal Box
Holiday Gifting Resources -
Toys for Tots - The application letter for the Toys for Tots program can be found here: https://pocatello--id.toysfortots.org