Native photographer hosts her tenth annual Halloween meals drive – The Dickinson Press

DICKINSON — For the previous 9 years, Krista Bothum of Bluebird Photography has spent her Halloween internet hosting a meals drive for AMEN Food Pantry in Dickinson. Over the years, the occasion has introduced in 7 tons of meals and $10,000 of financial donations for the pantry.

Bothum has at all times been occupied with images. She is proudly self taught, and has expertise in each movie and digital images. 13 years in the past, Bothum took the leap and launched her images profession right here in Dickinson. Her danger was rewarded, and he or she mentioned that Bluebird Photography was “immediately busy and booked.”

After a couple of years of profitable enterprise, Bothum was in search of a method to assist her neighborhood in any case it had executed for her:

“Dickinson is my hometown, and I just felt really fortunate that I was able to do something that I truly loved in my hometown. I was grateful for all of the support from my community, and I wanted to find a way to give back.”

Bothum’s brainstorming led her to the concept of exchanging photographs for donations. She determined to simply accept these donations within the type of groceries, since this is able to be a simple manner for the neighborhood to take part. Bothum additionally accepts financial donations.

Halloween was the pure alternative when contemplating the timing of the meals drive. According to Bothum, AMEN Food Pantry at all times advantages from donations proper earlier than the vacation season. Another essential consideration, Bothum mentioned, was supporting her fellow photographers within the space.

“I didn’t want to take away from other local photographers,” mentioned Bothum. Since Halloween will not be an usually photographed event, she thought it might be an ideal time to supply free photographs in alternate for donations, in order to not hurt different native companies.

For many Dickinson households, Bothum’s fundraiser has change into a Halloween custom. Bothum mentioned that many households have been together with her for the reason that starting, and a few households have liked to trace their kids’s progress by evaluating Halloween pictures from yr to yr.

As the occasion has grown, Bothum says that it has change into a household affair. Her brother-in-law, and sister, Mitch and Kelley Hartman, lend a trailer from their enterprise — Advanced Welding Solutions — to gather and transport the meals donations. Bothum’s kids, Charlie and Anna, additionally like to pitch in and assist manage the occasion. Other relations supply assist within the type of handbook labor and organizing the gang.

Last yr, the fundraiser garnered 1,670 kilos of meals and $4,941 for the AMEN Food Pantry. Every yr, the purpose, based on Bothum, is to surpass the earlier yr’s numbers.

This yr, Bothum will likely be providing photographs to anybody who brings a field or bag of groceries on Friday the thirty first from midday till 6pm, and on Saturday, November 1st. Bluebird’s studio is situated at 810 twenty first St. W in Dickinson.

Olivia covers native information and neighborhood curiosity matters for The Dickinson Press. She is a graduate of Wheaton College in Illinois, the place she studied English and performed softball. For story suggestions or inquiries, you may attain Olivia at 701-456-1213 or ofeddeler@thedickinsonpress.com.