Food banks

White Center Food Bank opens new "Grocery Store" model shopping experience

patr — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 01:17:18 +0000

patr Thu, 08/09/2018 - 6:17pm

Marelle Habenicht is the Executive Director of the White Center Food Bank which has just launched its new grocery store style model.

Serving thousands of people in need monthly, the White Center Food Bank joined the movement among food distribution centers nationally on July 5th opening a new "grocery store" shopping model.

The new layout offers fresh produce, shelf stable milk, canned goods, packaged foods and frozen meats. They are located at 10829 8th Ave SW. near White Center.

The new model, initiated only last February was led into being by Executive Director Marelle Habenicht. She said, "We really wanted to serve our clients with more dignity and respect and to be able to give them more food choices. Rather than having somebody hand them something over the counter they are able to come to the grocery store, choose what they want, take their time. If they have dietary restrictions they are able to actually read all the ingredients, rather than have a volunteer read it for them."

The milk is primarily shelf stable, and they have yogurt, eggs, and butter. Bread products are usually fully stocked.

If you want to donate food to the White Center Food Bank or help out, "We always need frozen meat, any fresh produce, and honestly coming to volunteer," said Habenicht. If you do volunteer you can expect to help in the grocery store, with check out, bagging and carrying groceries out to the client cars.

The Food Bank has doubled its distribution hours so they need help from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and on Monday from 12 to 4pm. The 2nd and 4th Wednesday they do food distribution from 4pm to 7pm.

The Food Bank is open from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday.

The change is really aimed at the clients. "We wanted to make it a really welcoming place and not your typical social service experience," said Habenicht, " You are not sitting in a waiting room for three or four hours. You are able to schedule an appointment, get in, in five minutes and get through it." Clients can schedule shopping visits in advance weeks ahead if necessary. "We are doing five appointments every fifteen minutes and the last hour is open to those without appointments or new clients." They are allowed three visits a month and next week online scheduling through the website will be enabled.

Former Director Rick Jump was at the opening event and said, "They have ~~have~~ hired a great Executive staff here and this change is something I wanted to see happen from a long time ago. It's about dignity."

Habenicht thanked her entire staff and singled out Development Director Carmen Smith for all the time she put in, "she actually used a crow bar to pull up all the old floor tiles before we did the new floor," and Pam Romine who was the Project Manager who was instrumental by "creating the timeline and ordering the furniture, and did everything. We could not have done it without her."

Baked goods are available. photo by Patrick Robinson

Fresh produce and much more are there. Photo by Patrick Robinson

Cheo is the full time intake specialist there. Photo by Patrick Robinson

Baby formula and diapers are available too. Photo by Patrick Robinson

Tom Salle of Meat the Live Butcher. Photo by Patrick Robinson

Audrey Z. and former Exec. Dir. Rick Jump were on hand for the event. Photo by Patrick Robinson

Birthday gift of food

patr — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:05:42 +0000

patr Sat, 11/14/2009 - 8:05pm

Steve Shay

West Seattle Food Bank’s Jack Wagstaff thanks Roman Saladino and Jackson Sullivan for their food donations. The two boys, best friends, each turned eight the first week of November and chose to be given food to donate instead of birthday gifts. This year has seen a 20 percent increase in need. West Seattle Food Bank is especially in need of baby formula, baby diapers, and protein items like tuna and peanut butter. Also dog and cat food.

Food banks

West Seattle

Robinson Papers

Dwindling food stocks spur junk removal company to take action

Guest — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:54:38 +0000

Guest (not verified) Fri, 08/07/2009 - 11:54am

With an increase in demand as high as 35 percent this year and a sharp drop in donations of baby food and formula, food banks across the city are desperate for donations. Solid Ground is hoping a three-day initiative starting Aug. 19 by local junk removal company 1-800 RID-OF-IT Junk Removal will help the troubling situation.

Trish Twomey, Hunger Action Center Manager for Solid Ground, said there is always an increased demand for food items in the summer because school is out and children no longer have access to breakfast or lunch programs. However, this summer the situation is markedly worse, she said.

“Families in our community are hungry, and the food banks are not able to cope with the increasing need,” said Twomey. “Working families are faced with tough decisions and choices, and they are turning to food banks to cover some of their food costs. This food drive is a great way to help families feed their kids.”

Food and monetary donations are significantly lower this year, while demand is up on average 35 percent across Seattle, according to Solid Ground. Stocks of formula and baby food are also down significantly.

1-800-RID-OF-IT Junk Removal is offering to pick up non-perishable food donations from residences across Seattle and Mercer Island, on Aug. 19, 20 and 21, free of charge. The company will deliver the food donations to various food banks in the Greater Seattle area.

Starting Aug. 19, the trucks will be stationed at busy intersections blasting Christmas carols to raise awareness.
“We’re looking to inspire people with a summer sense of Christmas goodwill,” said Mike McKee, president of 1-800-RID-OF-IT Junk Removal “No one wants to hear about starving children so please pick up the phone and call us to come and collect some cans of pureed carrots and peas.”  

Call is 1-800-743-6348 for a free pick-up Aug. 19, 20 and 21.