By Eniko Jordan For the Idaho State Journal

POCATELLO — This year’s Feeding the 5,000 campaign to benefit the Idaho Foodbank in Pocatello came to a successful close on Tuesday, as the donations of both finances and food were about equal to last year’s donations, according to Karla Reynolds.

Reynolds is one of the co-chairs of the program’s coordinating committee, along with Dawn McLaughlin

“It looks like we did about on par with last year,” Reynolds said. “Last year we had about $12,000 in donations, and a lot of food. I think we did about that much this year.”

   With the last of the financial donations still to be counted in the coming days, Reynolds said she feels good about their success this year. The campaign, now in its 14th year, was held from   Feb. 26 through May 2.

   McLaughlin cited a few examples of some improvement in this year’s results.

   “We did a little better in the grocery stores,” she said. “We received $300 dollars more than last year at the grocery stores.”

   McLaughlin was referring to the collection boxes for both funds and food items that were placed in area grocery stores on the Saturday before Easter.

   “We also had more churches contribute this season, than we did last season,” she said. “We did very well, considering the economy. It was a success. The people of Pocatello are real givers.”

   The Feeding the 5000 campaign is sponsored   by the Interfaith Council, which is made up of representatives of various churches in the Portneuf Valley. All of the proceeds are given to the Idaho Food Bank in Pocatello to benefit needy families in the area. 

   Reynolds has participated with the food drive for four years.

   “The thing I really like about it is that it’s an interfaith effort. We do it because we know it’s a need in our community, and all   the food goes to people in our community,” Reynolds explained. “It’s a way to act out our faith.”

   To find out more about the Feeding the 5000 program, visit  www.feed   ingthe5000.org  .