Woman struggling to keep food bank open in Grangeville

Leta Akins looks over food bank stocks.

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Story Published: Sep 22, 2009 at 10:59 PM PDT

Story Updated: Sep 23, 2009 at 5:43 PM PDT

By Matt Loveless

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GRANGEVILLE - She's determined to keep the needy fed and the Idaho County Food Bank open.

Her name is Leta Akins, a woman in Grangeville who's inspiring a community to give.

Akins worked for years at Grangeville's Community Action Partnership. She was eyeing a retirement plan and hoping to some day take over the food bank next door.

"I was holding my own, along with my husband's disability, we were able to make our bills," said Akins.

That was before her life was pushed off the tracks. Her disabled husband Don suddenly became paralyzed. Support for her church, which in turn supported her volunteering ventures at the food bank, disappeared.

"The doors did close last year," said Akins. "They just couldn't make it here financially."

That meant the 60 families a month who rely on the food would have been without.

"Especially when you're in the middle of the month waiting for your Food Stamps, and can't get them until the first of the month," said Michelle Solt, who benefits from the food bank. "So, it's very important."

But that's when Akins pushed back. She left her job at C.A.P. to take up the post of the food bank full time, but not full pay.

"We tried to do around $600 or $650 a month," said Akins. "That was fine. It was a lot lower than some other jobs, but I needed the freedom."

But because of a lack of grant money, that number was cut to $300 a month, then cut, and cut again. Akins said since January, she's collected about $600 worth of paychecks in total. Feeding the hungry, while struggling to put food on her own table.

"Yes, I would like a wage, but if I could keep the doors open that's the most important part to me right now," said Akin.

The community has noticed. With bills she, at times, can't possibly pay, landlords have donated rent. Last year, the food bank was given a bull, and it's 800 pounds of beef for free.

And despite the struggles, they still fed more than 100 families last Thanksgiving.

Akins, with the help of her daughter Desiree, who now volunteers, has no plans to quit.

"We're put here on this earth to give back, I feel," said Akin. "My faith in the Lord. He tells me that's what we're to do. Do unto others what you'd want them to unto you."

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