FOOD BANK

Update May 28, 2017: White Center Food Bank is restructuring its food program because of large cuts in outside funding. Items like fresh milk have been in short supply.

Based on income, every resident (except staff) living at Arrowhead Gardens is eligible for the mobile White Center Food Bank that comes here twice per month (check the calendar for your building).

Residents are encouraged to take what they can use and if later find they can’t use it, pass it on to another resident.

You may think that not participating is a good thing because someone else may need it more. This isn’t necessarily so. Others are watching and consequently may think they should not participate. Keeping healthy by eating what you need is paramount. Eating healthy contributes to fewer medical bills. It keeps us living independently longer.

Here’s an idea: If you have not participated in Food Bank in the past, try taking items you usually pay for to total $5. And then put that $5 aside to use in an emergency or to help a fellow resident.

If you can’t physically go to the Food Bank room, please call the Food Bank at 206-762-2848 a couple days ahead to plan for home delivery. If something comes up the day before or day of, please text (if you can) or call Ruth Dean. Her number is on the Arrowhead resident roster.

The WCFB is governed by a voluntary board and run on a day-to-day basis by paid full and part-time employees. The two men who give you produce on a Tuesday or Thursday are paid employees and the remainder of the people behind the tables and the man who makes home deliveries are volunteers from Arrowhead.

The food comes from many sources including the Federal Government through its USDA Commodities Program for staples such as oatmeal and pasta.

Meat, eggs and milk are purchased.

Northwest Harvest raises money that is used to purchase goods.

If you would like to frequent stores that donate they include QFC and Starbucks in Westwood Center and both the Roxbury and 128th Street Safe-Ways.

The annual Harvest Dinner Auction (2016) raises funds to pay for consumable goods and overhead.

A lot of forms are filled out for such a plan to come to fruition. Ice cream and meats must be kept frozen. Delivery trucks must be maintained. All the crates and boxes are hauled in and out each Tuesday and Thursday. The tables are brought in and at the end of the shopping period are sanitized, folded up and put back on the truck.

If someone approaches you in line at Food Bank asking for food, you can let them know they need to go to the stationary White Center Food Bank in White Center.
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See you at Food Bank!

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Food Bank report prepared by Joan Gilbert and posted Jan-22-2017
For food bank dates and times, check the Calendar for your building.

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White Center Food Bank serves residents in the community bordered by SW Myrtle St. (to the north, in West Seattle) to 140th St. SW (to the south, in Burien) between Puget Sound and Hwy 509.

Clients who are not in the service area will be referred to the food bank in their area for assistance.  The West Seattle Food Bank serves clients north of Myrtle Street in West Seattle.  The Highline Area Food Bank serves clients south of 192nd.