Sharbonos Receive "Above And Beyond" Award

The Fairview Chamber of Commerce presented its latest "Above and Beyond" Award to Rick and LuAnn Sharbono for their decades of service to the Fairview Food Bank. Rick has retired from Tri County Implement, and LuAnn from Merchants Bank, but whether it is in the middle of the day, or the middle of the night, they make sure that hungry people are fed.

Rick started volunteering for the food bank when he was on the Zion Lutheran Church Council in 1989. At that time, each church had a volunteer who helped out. The food was kept at St. Catherine's Catholic Church with Betty Trudell distributing much of it during the day. Ever since that church burned, the food has been stored at Zion. Other volunteers include Floyd Usselman, Floyd and Linda Sullivan, Charlotte Payette, Arlene Bieber, Mike and Rosemary Weber, and Bruce Benson. Additional volunteers would be very welcome. Rick says it's getting harder to climb those stairs!

When Rick started with the food bank, LuAnn and their children Marci and Danny also helped, with LuAnn continuing to this day. Rick said the best part of volunteering has been the relationships that he has developed with clients over the years, and helping out those people who really need it. "When someone calls, and you know they haven't eaten in a couple of days, even if it's in the middle of the night, you help," he said. He also appreciates all the support from the community.

Donations are always needed at the food bank and can be dropped off at Zion Lutheran Church. Monetary donations may be made at Merchants Bank. Anyone from the Fairview area who is in need of food can call the Richland County Food Bank at 406-433-8142, contact any of the Fairview churches, or call Sharbonos at 406-742-5879.