A new driveway is going in at the Ballard Food Bank and the forklift drivers won't miss the slipping and sliding they've put up for years.

The old driveway was steep with cracks that caught the wheels of the forklifts. Small smooth rocks embedded in the old concrete made it too slick when wet. Because of the slope, the forklifts had to back up and make a running start to get up the incline.

One client was carrying a box of food and slipped. Vans from Food Lifeline and Northwest Harvest could not back up the narrow driveway.

A new driveway should solve all these problems. It is being installed at a cost of $4,500. The Fremont Rotary Club, the food bank building's owner Jerry Darby and the organization's Board of Directors all donated $1,000 each to the project. Fremont property owner Suzie Burke gave $500.

Now the food bank is accepting donations from the public to raise the final $1,000 it needs to pay for the driveway construction.

A crew will soon begin tearing up the old concrete. The driveway will be wider and will be designed to enhance traction with a reduced angle. Concrete curbs at the top of the driveway will be taken out to give forklifts more space to maneuver.

It will take two weeks for the concrete to fully dry, forcing the food bank to adjust to not having the driveway.

"It's a pain, but it will be worth it," said John Simpson the food bank's new executive director.

Simpson has been concentrating on long overdue maintenance projects in his first six months on the job.

The building's exterior has a new white paint job that has given it a refreshed look.

"A lot of people have said how much better it looks. For clients, volunteers and staff, it's a much better environment," said Simpson.

With the lunch program moving to the Calvary Lutheran Church earlier this year, the food bank has more room to operate. The lunch program averages 75 to 150 clients three days a week.

The old lunchroom at the food bank was cramped and too small. People often lined up outside and had to eat their meals on the sidewalk.

Re-locating the program to the church has allowed clients to get out of the rain and they can relax with a newspaper before they eat. Meals are served on trays and plates, unlike the food bank where all the food was on paper plates.

A door leading to the old lunchroom now welcomes new clients for registration. In the past new clients waited in the same line as people lining up for food and this slowed the line down.

The registration area has a partition. "It's more private and respectful and speeds up the line," said Simpson.

Another new feature is the no cook line for people who don't have any means to prepare their own food. They can pick up canned goods and pre-packaged salads.

The clothing bank is as busy as ever. While women's clothes are available, men's clothing are constantly in short supply.

Seventy-volunteers work at the food bank to serve the client base and the changes make things go smoother.

"We've improved our flow a lot the last few months," said Simpson.

The food bank is staffed throughout the week to accept donations of clothes, food or money. Checks to support the new driveway project should be labeled clearly for that use. The Ballard Food Bank is located at 7001 24th Avenue N.W., Seattle 98117.

Visit http://www.ballardfoodbank.com or call 789-7800.