Help the hungry this holiday season

We are sorry to report that we are once again postponing our annual food drive. For 15 years we collected food from our clients on service visits and delivered it to Northwest Harvest. Over that time our generous clients have donated more than 20 tons of food!

When the pandemic started, we decided to put our annual food drive on hold in order to protect our employees from Covid-19. We still have limited staff capacity, partly because we recently moved to a new location. So we have decided to wait another year. Fingers crossed that we can do a food drive next year.

Instead, we hope you will contribute to organizations helping people who may have trouble putting food on their table. The pandemic increased the number of people facing insecurity with food, employment and housing. The holiday season is a great time to donate to help meet year-end needs.

Hunger in our state

Here are some facts about hunger in Washington state from Feeding Washington.

• 1 in 7 children in Washington state face hunger
• 1 in 10 people in our state are food insecure, which means they may not know where their next meal is coming from
• Use of food assistance and food banks rose significantly in the state during the Covid-19 pandemic
• 30 percent of Washington households that receive SNAP benefits (food stamps) have children
• 1 in 5 military families are food insecure
• Hunger disproportionately affects communities of color, especially Black families

Ways you can help

Here are two of our favorite organizations. You may have your own preferences. Consider donating both money and time to help the hungry. The organizations can all use helping hands.

Northwest Harvest

Northwest Harvest is the leading hunger relief agency in the state. They work to provide food where it’s needed most through a network of 375 food banks, meal programs and high-need schools. Through this network, the organization provides nearly two million meals every month, and 2/3 of the food distributed are fruits and vegetables.

Northwest Harvest is also working to transform an unjust food system into one that is more responsive and accountable because “we believe nutritious food is a human right.”

The organization relies on donations to help them achieve their mission. Here are ways to give to Northwest Harvest.

 Hopelink

If you would rather focus on the needs of your local community rather than statewide, consider giving to Hopelink. Hopelink provides support for people in need who live in King and Snohomish counties.

People who turn to Hopelink for help may be hungry, homeless or about to have their utilities shut off. Some may have lost their jobs or had a sudden illness that drained their savings account.

Hopelink services result in two primary outcomes.

• First, they help clients achieve stability through getting their basic needs met, such as food and shelter.
• Second Hopelink equips clients to exit poverty by gaining skills and knowledge that can permanently change their lives.

Here are ways to give to Hopelink.

More choices

Here are more options to help people facing hunger and food insecurity.

• The Seattle Food Committee lists more than 30 local food banks that offer free groceries and other needed resources. A map links to information about each organization and ways to give.
• Verdant Health lists food bank locations in King County (including Seattle). Contact the individual organizations on the list for information about donating and volunteering.
• The Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition has over 18 members serving clients throughout the county. Here is a link to donate to the coalition.
• City Fruit harvests and stewards urban fruit trees to support sustainable and equitable access to fruit. Here is a link to donate.
• Feeding Washington unites the efforts to end hunger in our state by supporting local communities, uniting organizations and scaling up access to nutritious food. Here is a link to donate.

Thank you, and we hope you can be generous.