BY KAREN BOSSICK

Blaine County Democrats collected 70 boxes of food during a two-hour period this past weekend. And they’re still collecting.

Ten volunteers manned five bins outside supermarkets in Bellevue, Hailey and Ketchum last Friday and Saturday. They collected high-protein foods like tuna fish, canned chicken, legumes, nut butters, farro flour, canned fruits, canned vegetables and butter for The Hunger Coalition and for The Shoshone Project’s holiday food drive.

They’re hoping community residents will continue to make donations to unmanned bins through Tuesday, Nov. 25. Those collection bins are located in:

Ketchum at Maude’s Coffee and NourishMe

Hailey at Iconoclast Books, La Cabanita and Wylde Beet

Bellevue at La Cabinita and the Building Materials Thrift Store

The collection drive is part of a statewide food drive organized by the Idaho Democrats, said Katie Van Hees.

“The Hunger Coalition wanted an emphasis on protein foods, but we added a few other things, like hot cocoa with marshmallows, pancake mix and syrup, jelly and honey, cranberry sauce and Ramen noodles,” she said.

“We’ve never done won before but a lot of people still haven’t gotten their food stamps due to the SNAP benefit disruption,” she added. “And people have been very generous.”