His words were not unusual - spoken by a young father who was applying for food.  His wife was seriously ill.  He had lost his job and the housing that was a perk with his employment.

What he didn’t know was that he, along with others, could wind up in such a circumstance within a few months time. “I had a home, a job, a car and so did everyone else,” he said.  “I didn't know that this partof the world existed.  I didn't see it.”

He had come into sudden poverty; and it has changed his life completely.

Another thing he didn't know was that there was a viable network of human services in this community ready to help him.  He is gradually coming into contact with some of them.  To date, most of the people he is speaking to are volunteers who willingly work in the “sudden poverty” field.  Others in the field are human services professionals.

Among the volunteer services are some “new kids on the block,” and those which have been around quite a while.  The Seventh-day Adventist Community Service Centers are of the latter. One center is in Nampa
and the other in Caldwell, each supported by and situated close to the church building.

In Caldwell, the Seventh-day Church is located at the corner of Indiana and Linden - 2106 E. Linden with the service center across the lot.  It has been open at least 20 years. The food bank is clearly signed.

The Caldwell food bank is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. Although there are some restrictions, “People who need help, get help,” Volunteer Director Raina Peterson said.  Food boxes are given at 4-week intervals.  “In a 2-day span, we help 30 to 50 families, but cannot give (to each) every week.”

The food bank fills “. . .a good box” of basic supply: bread, canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, tuna, dry beans, spuds and fresh fruit and vegetables in season as they are given to the food bank, Peterson said. “A new item is hamburger since we got a freezer,” she said.

The food comes from church member support, some FEMA money, the Crop Walk and, at Thanksgiving, the youth group Pathfinders, collects food for holiday baskets, Peterson.  Purchases are made at The Idaho Food
bank and some at a local grocery store.

 “We accept donations at the site,” Peterson said. Sometimes food is left at the door.  As to volunteers, “. . .we generally have enough volunteers among church members. “We like to have references,” Peterson said.  “Applicants need identification and are interviewed.”

The service area includes Canyon and Owyhee counties and is split between the two churches. The Nampa Seventh-day Adventist Church is located at 307 W. Iowa; Joyce Lauderbach leads the Community Service Center volunteers there. The Nampa food bank is open Wednesdays from 12 to 4 p.m.

The Community Service Centers also have on hand clothing, shoes, some bedding and new quilts (made by church members).  As part of their work, the service centers send a quantity of  goods overseas every
year.

But the majority of service is in this area.  Where families in need can go for help when they fall into a stream of bad luck.

As for the rest of us, it is good to know there is a viable network of human services here.  The network depends on each of us to share a bit of what we have - everyday household items,  food especially.

No food pantry will turn away canned or dry foods; some can use frozen meats. Not just atthe holiday season, or to clean out that old moose left in the freezer since the last hunting trip; make up a box of food and offer it to
one of the food banks. Or organize a collection at your next club meeting, and take a lot of boxes of food to the food bank.

There is a cure for “sudden poverty.”  Families get past it with hard work and the hardworking network that exists to help them.