Members of the Division 26 Kiwanis in Seattle invite the public to bring non-perishable foods to the White Center Food Bank on April 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Members of the Kiwanis will be stationed outside the food bank at the food bank,10829 8th Ave. S.W., under a canopy to collect donations.

The White Center Food Bank says the most needed foods are Hamburger Helper and Rice-a-Roni type products as well as canned meat (not tuna), canned fruit, cereal and jelly.

The White Center Food Bank serves a diverse ethnic population so ethnic foods are always welcome. The food bank also accepts $5 and $10 gift cards from Safeway, QFC or Albertsons.

Cash donations can be sent to the White Center Food Bank at 10829 8th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98146.

The White Center Food Bank has been providing emergency food relief in this community for more than 30 years. In the past two years food insecurity has grown. The rising cost of housing, food, and health care, cutbacks in federal funding for housing and food assistance, and the loss of manufacturing jobs leave many working families short of food.

Last year a record 17,000 families were served and almost 900,000 pounds of food was distributed worth about $1.5 million dollars. This was done with two paid staff and over 200 volunteers including members of Kiwanis White Center, 34th District Democrats, Fauntleroy UCC and Evergreen Key Club.

Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.