By Patrick Robinson

Hunger is a a human condition that always needs attention. In a society seemingly awash in food advertising, people fighting obesity, and heart disease, and a nation whose all inclusive culture seems to offer any kind of food, you can imagine the facts of hunger are hard to face.

Food Lifeline faces those facts daily. Food Lifeline, one of 202 around the nation, supplies 39 million pounds of food to food banks across Western Washington from Vancouver to the Canadian border. They are responsible for repackaging and delivering food to 275 different organizations and now they have a new home in South Park, a Hunger Solution Center to meet this most important human need. They are located at 815 South 96th Street in a new 130,000 square foot facility. They will celebrate their Grand Opening June 16 with a party featuring food, games, tours and live music provided by The Approximations, featuring King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg.

The organization raised $34 million to construct the new facility (and the 70,000 sq. ft. building next door) from individuals, corporations, grants and government sources.

They had been in Shoreline for most of their history, then established a distribution center in SODO and finally took occupancy of their new home in April. The building is so large it contains a 17,000 sq. foot refrigerator/freezer which was the size of their former home in Shoreline.

Why do people go hungry?
Amy Lee Derenthal, Food Lifeline's, Chief Development Officer said people go hungry for a number of reasons.
1. Health care costs
2. Housing costs
3. Job loss

"We can help people to meet their needs by partnering with local organizations," she said.

The organization is remarkably efficient. "With one dollar we can provide five meals," Derenthal said explaining that since so much food is donated they can make the dollars donated go further. Plus, 96 cents of every dollar goes to programs.

How it works
Food banks across Western Washington have access to an online database of food supplies in the warehouse that is constantly being updated as inventory comes in and goes out. They put in an order for what they need and it's set aside for later pickup. 85% of the food given out is donated.

Food that comes in from donation drives, farmers and grocery stores is first scanned or categorized using a tool called Microsoft Dynamics Series since it must be put into a database.
Then local food banks like West Seattle Foodbank and White Center Foodbank go online to place an order. Distribution, Derenthal said, is handled equitably. Food Lifeline also uses re-distributors who will disburse food to various smaller organizations at more remote locations.

The organization has more than 10,000 volunteers from individuals to corporations annually who perform a variety of tasks from food sorting to Fresh Rescue to engagement and welcoming.
Food Lifeline programs include Grocery Rescue, Seattle’s Table and Mobile Food Pantry and the organization is always looking for new and sustainable ways to redirect surplus food to people in need.

How you can help
You can help the organization by donating directly, volunteering your time, hosting a food drive, or by advocating for the hungry or urging corporations to help.
Food Lifeline is still in the process of raising funds to pay for the new building through the end of 2016 so donations to that end are very much appreciated.
Food Lifeline employs a staff of around 70 people, from truck drivers to food industry specialists.
Food Lifeline is a member of the Feeding America network.

More photos of the new facility and links to volunteer sign up can be found on www.WestSeattleHerald.com