Food Banks Need Money and Food NOW

I would especially like to thank Mike Cohen, Food Bank Executive Director, and Karen Kinney, Executive Director of the Farmers Market, for assisting with their valuable knowledge.

Meeting a Hero From the Depression Era

While traveling down Chestnut Street and heading for the Bellingham Farmer’s Market, I met an elderly gentleman selling some handmade animal magnets. He stops me and states, “I am selling these for the Food Bank. I give all the money to the Food Bank. I am 84 years old. I remember what it’s like to be poor. I grew up in the thirties.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Too many people look down on people who use the Food Bank. It is refreshing to hear you not blame them but tell how you help.”

Then he gets out his small book and shows me how he has made over $1,600 in the last four months. “All of it goes to the Food Bank,” he proudly states.

“That’s great,” I reiterate. “I especially like how you respect people and do not condemn them for their situation.”

Later, he gives me his card: Leroy A. Carlson, The Turtle Man: Turtles, Baskets, & Buzzards, and then gifts me with his handmade turtle.

Contributing Reason for Food Stamp Cuts: When Congress cut Food Stamps, a friend mentioned how hers had gone from $84 to $15, so she had to go to the food bank. She, like many others, worked a lifetime but now needs the Social Security (SS) she earned and had taken from her many paychecks, she complained. (SS is another worthwhile topic but this essay concentrates on the need for food banks.)

When I visited the Bellingham downtown food bank, it amazed me to see the line go down and around the block before it even opened at 12:30 a.m. (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Participants may visit once a week, yet every opening day the line is lengthy.

On this particular day, at the beginning of the line sits a large, elderly man. “When did you get here that you have such a prime spot?” I ask him.

He smiles back at me and answers, “I started waiting here at 4 or 5 a.m.”

I emailed Mike Cohen, the Food Banks Executive Director, who wrote: “Right now, about 15 percent of Bellingham’s residents visit our food bank on a regular basis.”

About 11,200 clients come every month. Clients are able to come once a week, so they may come four times a month. All people must show a piece of mail to ensure that they are Bellingham residents. The mail requirement appears to be standard for all food banks in the county.

I wondered why the line was so long before the bank even opened. Of course, I’m told, “Foods are rationed out, but the beginning of the line has the most fresh produce.”

All clients are treated respectfully and not interrogated about their need. Many do not speak English, but may speak Russian, Spanish or other languages.

Volunteer’s Dilemma

A home gardener friend pondered, “I feel so silly bringing in my two heads of lettuce.”

“Don’t,” I stated, “The line is long. It will be appreciated.”

Most of the food bank workers volunteer their time. Some give their own farmed garden gifts.

On the Food Bank website, other volunteer activities are outlined:

• Want to Help? Plan to grow extra food in your garden and be a Victory Gardener. http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org/our_programs/victory_gardens

Rescue local produce with our Small Potatoes Gleaning Project. http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org/our_programs/small_potatoes_ gleaning_project

Gardener Host a Milk Money fundraiser! http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org/our_programs/milk_money1

Management organizes and creates some guidelines to make food distribution as easy and fair as possible. Mike tells about the Bellingham Food Bank newsletter: “Food for Thought.” In his article, he writes:

I’ve been working at Bellingham Food Bank for nearly ten years, and a lot has changed in my life in that time. I’m decidedly middle aged. My wife and I purchased our own home, my father passed away, friends have married, and friends have divorced. By far the biggest change for me has been becoming a father.

As many of you may know, it’s hard to see the world through the eyes of a parent until you are a parent. Ten years ago I cared deeply about hungry people. I still believe hunger is unacceptable. However, hungry kids have an even greater impact on me, heart and soul, now that I’m a dad.

Studies show that one in four kids in our community is food insecure. That means that their parents, grandparents or other caregivers struggle to provide enough food for them on a regular basis. How did we get to this place where 25% of our children are hungry? … Our food bank does a lot of good things to address childhood hunger. We provide lots of baby food and formula, fresh milk, eggs, and other protein items. Our agricultural programs provide thousands of pounds of nutritious produce each year. But, it’s clearly not enough.

Recently there have been some great discussions among people from local school districts, foundations, Food Lifeline and other anti-hunger organizations about finding the most effective and innovative ways to alleviate childhood hunger. I’m fully energized and committed to keeping our food bank at the table, and I’ll keep you informed on future developments and how you can help.

Working on solutions for ending childhood hunger is not only my job. It’s my responsibility as a parent and a community member. Because none of our kids should go hungry.2

“Wow,” I thought: the Food Bank even has a written and on-line newspaper with quite a few articles, interviewing volunteers and participants. The on-line newsletter comes out once a month. You can email for an electronic copy: info@bellinghamfoodbank.org http://www.unitedwaywhatcom.org/help-hard-times

Whatcom County food banks are listed on the Whatcom Opportunity Council’s website3 and some are outlined on the next page. Readers may call the Opportunity Council for the closest food bank near them. Also, United Way helps with locating food bank sites and offers many other types of assistance: (360) 255-2192.4

Most all of the food banks require participants to bring two pieces of mail with their name and address. Only one visit a week is allowed.

More information is given at the conclusion of the article for the Whatcom County Food Bank sites.

Food Banks Around The US:

While writing this article, I perused other food banks’ on-line sites for what is happening across America and around the world. The following are a miniature of my findings:

The West Seattle Newsletter reported:

• …the 7th Annual “Instruments of Change Dinner/Auction” such a huge success, raising over $122,000 a 20 percent increase over last year… [In addition, the paper listed and thanked the many business sponsors].

Also reported in the West Seattle Newsletter:

• After sitting down for dinner, provided by Tuxedo and Tennis Shoes, guests participated in a very energetic live auction where two guests walked away with trips to South Africa. Rosslyn Shea, our guest speaker and a counselor at Arbor Heights Elementary, was very instrumental in the start of our new Backpack Program and spoke passionately about the children.

In Rosslyn’s words, “I am originally from Kenya and when I moved to the US, I was shocked to see children going to bed hungry. I expect that in a third world country, I do not expect it in America, the greatest nation in the world.”5

Other ways for Seattle to get donations follow:

• The donations (monetary and food) we receive from March 1st – April 30th  that are designated “Feinstein Challenge”  the larger percentage of the million dollars the West Seattle Food Bank will receive. Won’t you please donate during this year’s challenge? There  is such a need  (especially children and the elderly) here in our West Seattle community and there are many different ways you can lend a hand!6

A Bay Area TV station began commenting in a similar style as the elderly gentleman in Bellingham, but added one of the main problems – food stamp cuts:

• KQED: Bay Area Food Banks Brace for “Worrisome’ Cut to Food Stamps January 2014 - Bay Area food banks struggled throughout the Great Recession and its aftermath to feed the region’s poor and hungry. Now they’re facing a new challenge: a new federal farm bill, passed by the House on Monday night and now awaiting Senate vote, that will cut food-stamp funding by billions of dollars over the next decade…7

In Australia, US Uncut reports news about hunger being censored:

• “85,000 people from across Australia marched against austerity on Sunday in the nation’s largest economic protest in 30 years, but the media refuses to cover them. SHARE to break corporate media’s blackout of this historic uprising.

Prime Minister Tony Abott’s budget includes cuts to schools, disability care, unemployment benefits, and also raises the pension age. Demonstrators want to stop him from transforming Australia’s economy into the US model with record high corporate profits, repressed wages, and rampant inequality.”

Fresh Bucks

Ending on a positive note, Karen Kinney, Executive Director of the Farmers Market, describes to me in an email the following way for SNAP recipients to get farm fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers markets in Bellingham:

• The Bellingham Farmers Market has a new program that benefits low income people who receive SNAP benefits. Market shoppers who swipe their SNAP EBT cards at the market will receive matching funds to shop for fruits and vegetables at the market! 

Here’s how it works: The shopper goes to the Market Information Booth and swipes their EBT card. The market will match each SNAP dollar swiped with a Fresh Bucks dollar, up to $10. If a shopper swipes $4 on their EBT card, the market will match $4 [$8 wooden tokens]. If they swipe $10, the market will match $10. If they swipe $20, it will match $10.

The program is available at their Wednesday and Saturday markets. For info, go to: http://www.bellinghamfarmers.org/email sent 7-17-2014 execdirector@wafarmersmarkets.com

Quite a few farmers markets around Washington offer similar programs with a variety of names. To find out about other markets go to: http://www.wafarmersmarkets.com/foodaccess/freshbucks.html8

Radical Seattle

Those radical innovators from Seattle initiated a great way to support small farmers while serving the hungry with fresh fruits and vegetables. The program is referred to as Fresh bucks.

Fortunately, the Federal 2014 Farm Bill has a program similar to Seattle’s Fresh Bucks written into the 2014 bill. Details of the program have yet to be presented.

In Conclusion

Let us remember to thank those generous politicians for their thoughtful Food Stamp cuts that enable the sick, the disabled and the weak to get some exercise by getting to the food bank line.

Please, Generous Ones, consider contributing money or garden produce or what you can to assist the food banks, these important non-profits of our Whatcom community.

Whatcom County Food Bank sites:

Bellingham Food Bank, 1824 Ellis St., Bellingham, WA 98225

Phone: (360) 676-0392, Web: http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org

Hrs. M,W,F: 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.; W 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Food can be donated M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Birch Bay Food Pantry, 4672 Loft Lane, off of Alderson Rd, Birch Bay, WA 98230

Phone (360) 371-3070, Hrs. 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. on 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.

Provides food, toiletries, and paper products for its environs.

Blaine Food Bank, 500 C St., Blaine, WA 98230

Phone: (360) 332-6350, Hrs. T & F: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; W 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Provides food to Blaine area residents.

Christ the King Food Bank, 5373 Guide Meridian Unit D5, Bellingham, WA 98226

Ferndale Food Bank, 1671 Main St., Ferndale, WA 98248

Food Hotline, Phone (360) 788-7328, A Project of Whatcom Anti-Hunger Coalition

Foothills Food Bank, 6210 Mt. Baker Hwy. St . Peter’s Church, Deming, WA 98244

Phone (360) 354-2334, Hrs. Tues: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Hope House, 207 Kentucky St., Bellingham, WA 98225

Phone (360) 671-8702, Hrs., M,T, TH: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., F: 12 – 3:30 Clothing, household items, emergency food

Lord’s Table Food Bank, 4037 Valley Hwy., Van Zandt, WA 98224

Phone (360) 582-2279, Hrs. 2nd and 4th Sat. of month, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Located at River of Life Church

Lummi Food Bank/Community Services, 2830 Kwina Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226

Commodity food program for income eligible for Native Americans of Whatcom County.

Lynden Project Hope Food Bank, 205 S. BC Ave., #105 Lynden, Sumas, Everson, Nooksack

Hrs M, W, F: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Must live north of Smith Road (Lynden, Sumas, Everson, Nooksack) Food, financial assistance, utility assistance (in the winter, ends in May) and clothing.

Nooksack Tribal Food Bank, 4971 Deming Rd., Deming, WA 98224

Phone (360) 592-0135, Hrs.: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. 1st Friday of month.

Nooksack Valley Food Bank, 204 N. Washington St., Everson, WA 9824 7

Phone: (360) 966-4833, Hrs. Th: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Located at Everson Presbyterian Church. Need to bring local ID for Sumas, Nooksack, or Everson. Also serves prepared lunch at noon.

Salvation Army, 2912 Northwest Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225

Phone: (360) 733-1410, Hrs. M, T, TH, F 12 – 3 p.m. Food, clothing, household Items. Assistance for shut off notices.

Southside Food Bank, 1400 Larrabee Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225

Phone: (360) 733-8400, Hrs. 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Located at Hillcrest Chapel

St. Joseph Social Action, St Joseph Catholic Church 205 12th St., Lynden, WA 98265

Phone (360) 354-3838 (leave a message), Hrs. M-F 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

May provide emergency assistance with food, utilities, and rent assistance for residents of Nooksack, Sumas, Everson, Nooksack residents.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Outreach, 5781 Hendrickson, Ferndale, WA 98248

Phone (360) 384-3651, Hrs. Th: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Serves members of the Ferndale and Lummi reservation community.

St.Joseph’s Catholic Church Outreach, 5781 Hendrickson, Ferndale, WA 98248

Phone (360) 384-3651, Hrs. Th: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Serves members of the Ferndale and Lummi reservation community.

Whatcom Free Food Hotline

Phone (360) 788-7328, Information on where to get a free meal or free groceries.

Whatcom Humane Society Pet Food Bank, 3710 Williamson Way, Bellingham

Phone (360) 733-2080

Whatcom Voice of the Animals Pet Food Bank, 1824 Ellis St., Bellingham

Phone (360) 650-0556