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Thousands of Local Boy Scouts are mounting a massive Food Drive beginning this Saturday, March 13th (and concluding next Saturday, March 20th), in one of the largest food collection campaigns ever mounted by troops in the Puget Sound area.
The campaign, called “SCOUTING FOR FOOD,” kicks off this Saturday when Scouts canvas neighborhoods with door-hangers listing the most-needed food items for local food banks.
The Scouts will return next Saturday (March 20th) to pick up donations and deliver them to local food banks.
Record numbers of people are visiting local food banks in the wake of news that Washington state’s unemployment rate rose to 9.3 percent in January. 373,000 children living in Washington state households struggle to put food on the table, according to Children’s Alliance and USDA reports. To meet the increased food shortage locally, the Chief Seattle Council is teaming up with the Pacific Harbors Council of Boy Scouts of America making this the largest food collection campaign ever done by them. The two councils represent up to nearly 46,000 Scouting youth participation.
“In these tough economic times the SCOUTING FOR FOOD drive is more important than ever,” says Pat Craven, Boy Scout Spokesman. “Coordinating the two councils for our 2010 Centennial effort means we can help more people.” Craven added, “This drive will allow our Scouts to put into action the Scout Oath by ‘Helping Other People at All Times’.”
“Many families have depleted their resources and find themselves in need for the first time in their lives and our stock is dangerously low,” says Teresa Andrade, Center Manager at Kirkland/Northshore Hopelink. “The SCOUTING FOR FOOD drive by the Boy Scouts makes a huge difference to the people who depend on our help, especially when programs serving Washington’s children have received harsh cuts in state and local funding.”
And speaking of local food banks and fundraisers, don’t forget that there are two major fundraiser events for the Highline Area Food Bank this weekend:
- Friday night, March 12th, 6pm+: Cove to Clover Pub Crawl starts at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub.
- Sunday, March 14th, 1pm: Cove to Clover 5k race begins at the Normandy Park Community Center.
by Mark Neuman
All of us at The B-Town and White Center Blogs would like to offer a huge Turkey Day “thank you” to everyone who donated this past weekend at our 2nd Annual Turkey ‘N’ Diapers Drive at Albertsons in White Center.
Over $800 in donations was collected!
The food items will be distributed to those in need by the White Center Food Bank.
Baby related items will go to WestSide Baby, located in White Center.
Team leader Bart Bryan, who often hosts “Whaddaya Think?” on our six neighborhood blogs said “It was very, very cold weatherwise, but the hearts of our neighbors were warm.”
Example: two men, both fighting cancer, arrived three hours apart and, not knowing each other, donated food. Each did so with giving smiles.
One of the most touching moments of the day was when an elderly man donated all he could – 24 cents.
A Sarah Palin look-alike stopped by and contributed food.
A casino dealer set his 52 cards down and gave away a box of 168 diapers.
A grandmother waved and left a grocery bag of pasta and sauce.
A man named “Joe,” who did not want his picture taken, gave four bags of Top Ramen for “starving college students.”
Darla Green, of Skinperfect Aesthetics, was the first donor of the day.
Darla Green, from Skin Perfect Aesthetics in Burien, was the first donor of the day, bringing in a paper bag full of canned goods.
Mike, from an up and coming spot in White Center called Proletariat Pizza, donated three pizzas for the volunteers.
We’d also like to give a big shout out to the good folks at the White Center Albertsons!
Thanks, everyone!
WestSide Baby is a nonprofit organization that collects previously-owned items for children and babies and distributes them free of charge to South King County families in need.
In 2008 WestSide Baby served more than 12,000 children.
In any given month the White Center Food Bank serves over 1,500 families.
Here’s contact information:
White Center Food Bank
10829 8th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146
www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
Phone: 206-762-2848
And:
WestSide Baby
10032 15th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98146
(206) 767-1662
www.westsidebaby.org
Here’s a Photo Slideshow shot by Mark Neuman and Scott Schaefer of the day:
We’ve all seen, heard and felt the rumblings of the roller coaster ride of an economy, job losses and other signs of the apocalypse, but it really hits harder when you find out your own neighbors are going hungry.
The Highline Area Food Bank, which serves most of Burien, is in dire need now, as their supplies have never been lower (EDITOR’S NOTE: Our last “Blog Party” doubled as a fundraiser for both the Highline and White Center Food Banks, but they need more help now!).
Ways you can help:
- Hold your own food drive (see below for details on how to do it)
- Donate cash directly to the food bank (they can get better deals than most so cash is crucial!)
- Volunteer to help at the food bank
- Call them and pitch your own ideas: 206-433-9900
Recently we checked in with Mike Werle, Executive Director, and he gave us this rather sad update:
As we believed a couple months back things were going to get worse.
We normally average about 65-75 family visits every day were open but last week and a half have been crazy as we served 273 family units.
Our supply of food has never been this low before at this time of year so we have had to start spending more money to purchase food. We’ve started to see some local food drives kick in but so far they have generated less food than in years past.
Times are tough all over. I guess if you spread the word on the Blog it would help.
One thing that would help us is more local food drives. It doesn’t take much effort for a group or organization to host one. We already have relationships with most of the local Stores (Fred Meyer, Safeway, Albertsons, QFC, & Grocery Outlet) and they are usually more than willing to allow groups to set up in front of the store to do food drives as long as there is no other conflict that day.
Local businesses might challenge others to see who can collect the most food in a given time frame. Just a few thoughts.
We are still in need of a pick up route driver on Fridays and Saturday. People interested could call me at the food Bank.
Thanks for interest and keep up the great work on the B-Town Blog. It’s always a great read and a great source of info.
Mike Werle
HAFB
206-433-9900
The Highline Area Food Bank is located at 18300 4th Ave South in Burien:
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