Showing posts with label food banks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food banks. Show all posts

North Helpline has a critical need for food bank volunteers

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Photo courtesy North Helpline
This labor day weekend, many of us are giving summer one last hurrah.

September can be a challenging time for North Helpline's volunteer team. Busy families are prepping kiddos to return to school, with less time to volunteer.

This year is looking especially rough, says our Food Bank Manager, Claire.

"Every day that our food bank opens is thanks to the collective efforts of over 20 volunteers. We're currently looking at half of that or less for most of our shifts in September."

When we don't have enough volunteers for our food bank at Lake City, it can mean we have to close one of our two lines that neighbors go through to select their food. This makes getting through the foodbank takes more time, a challenge for folks that have limited funds for childcare or hours outside of work to stop by.

If you have a spare afternoon this summer, or know some highschoolers looking to get their required volunteer hours, stop by North Helpline!

You'll be making a huge difference in keeping our food access and homelessness prevention programs reliable for all our neighbors.

Learn About VolunteeringVisit our Website

The food bank in Lake City is located at 12736 33rd Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125


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Join the National Association of Letter Carriers May 11, 2024 to help Stamp Out Hunger

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Stamp Out Hunger is happening Saturday, May 11, 2024.

Stamp Out Hunger, the nation’s largest single-day food drive known for its distinctive blue plastic bags, was created by the National Association of Letter Carriers in response to the need for food they saw in the community every day on their routes. 

Here’s how it works:
  1. A blue Stamp Out Hunger bag will be sent to your home in early May.
  2. Fill the bag with non perishable food items and leave it by your mailbox by 8am for your postal worker on Saturday, May 11.
That’s it!

Food from this drive helps Food Lifeline fill the shelves of local food banks, shelters, and meal programs across Western Washington. 

While one bag of food may seem small, a little goes a long way and Stamp Out Hunger succeeds every year, thanks to the donations of generous neighbors like you!

The Food Lifeline warehouse was located in Shoreline until it outgrew its space. Sometimes known as the "food bank's food bank" Food Lifeline can take in food in bulk or in very large amounts from farmers, manufacturers, grocery stores, and restaurants.

Thousands of volunteers help sort and repack this food, preparing it for pickup and delivery. Food Lifeline provides this food to 350 food banks, shelters, and meal programs across Western Washington.


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Richmond Beach Congregational Church collects 649 lbs of food for Edmonds Food Bank

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Thank you to all who contributed to last Saturday's Food Drive at Richmond Beach Congregational Church. 

We collected 649 lbs of food! 

Per the Edmonds Food Bank, this time of year donations tend to be less frequent and smaller amounts. 

They were very appreciative of this large collection!

Photo courtesy RBCC

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Senator Murray hosts Nutrition Roundtable at North Helpline Food Bank

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Sen. Patty Murray tours the North Helpline Food bank with Executive Director Kelly Brown

On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hosted a roundtable with nutrition advocates, mothers, and local officials to hear more about WIC implementation in Seattle and the importance of fully funding WIC.

Murray is leading the charge in Congress to protect WIC funding, and as Senate Appropriations Chair, is also leading the negotiations to complete our Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills.

Late last year, USDA revised its initial estimates of funding needed for the WIC program upward; USDA now projects needing an additional $1 billion above the Fiscal Year 2023 spending level due to rising food prices and increased WIC participation.

Historically, no one who qualifies for WIC is turned away—but that could change if WIC programs are not funded to meet projected needs. During the roundtable, Murray reiterated her strong commitment to fully funding WIC even under the extremely difficult funding constraints imposed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and supporting mothers and children across Washington state and the entire country.

Sen. Murray hosted the Nutrition Roundtable at North Helpline

Murray hosted the roundtable at North Helpline food bank and was joined by 
  • Monique Anair, a mom who’s relied on WIC before; 
  • Paul Throne, Director of the Office of Nutrition Services at Washington State Department of Health;
  • Lannesse Baker, Director of Research and Evaluation at the Urban Indian Health Institute; 
  •  Kelly Brown, Executive Director at North Helpline; and 
  • Chad Davis-Montgomery, Regional Director of the Supplemental Nutrition Division within the Western Region of the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—better known as the WIC program—serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care. 

Nearly 40 percent of U.S. infants participate in WIC, including 131,139 mothers, children, and infants in Washington state.

“WIC keeps millions of moms and babies fed in America—when I became Senate Appropriations Chair I made a commitment to make sure the federal government puts kids and families first, so even under really tough fiscal constraints, that’s exactly what I’m fighting to do,” said Senator Murray. 


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Richmond Beach Congregational Church thanks those who donated to their food drive

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Thank you to all who contributed to the Richmond Beach Congregational Church Food Drive on Saturday, January 20, 2024! 

We collected and donated 14 boxes of food to the Edmonds Food Bank.


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Ridgecrest Neighborhood Holiday Food Drive for Hopelink - Shoreline's Food Bank

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Ridgecrest Neighborhood Holiday Food Drive for Hopelink - Shoreline's Food Bank. 

You can take items to Cafe Aroma or Drumlin or donate funds via the Ridgecrest website.

The Food Drive is going on now through the end of December. Please donate non-perishable food items and personal care items. The goal is to collect 1,300 lbs. 

Go to the website to make cash donations. The goal is to raise $1,300.

Food and personal care items can be dropped off at:
Welcome donations include:
  • Non-expired packaged or canned food
  • Personal Care items such as diapers, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, shaving cream, razors
  • And don't forget the pets; Pet Food products both canned and dry


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Own a piece of local history - Town / Country Market to auction off old Central Market letters

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Own a letter of your very own!
Own a piece of local history in the form of cool decor! Town / Country Markets is auctioning off its Shoreline and Poulsbo Central Markets lighted “Central Market” letters from the old signs. Proceeds are being donated to two food banks.

They're big! They're bold! They're... letters! 

Accent your patio, show off a backyard conversation piece, or add vintage flair to your small business. Snag a piece of history and help to provide food and resources for your neighbors in need.

The auction starts Monday, September 11 - 14 at new.biddingowl.com/townandcountry. Win a little piece of local history and own a supercool letter.


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North Helpline Bitter Lake Food Bank celebrates its 6th year anniversary

Thursday, July 13, 2023

North Helpline is inviting everyone to join them to celebrate their 6th year in the Bitter Lake neighborhood! 

North Helpline operates a food access program in the Bitter Lake and Broadview neighborhoods of North Seattle. This free and family-friendly event will have food, games, music, and resources from community partners!

North Helpline is a local nonprofit organization that provides access to food through two food banks and a home grocery delivery program. North Helpline also works on homelessness prevention through a direct financial assistance program for rent, utilities, and moving costs.

  • When: Sunday, July 30, 2023; 1-4pm
  • Where: Bitter Lake Community Center - 13035 Linden Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133
  • Who: Everyone is invited to attend with their families, enjoy some appetizers, and learn about the community resources available in the North Seattle community.


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Volunteer opportunities at North Helpline

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Volunteers are the beating heart of North Helpline. We urgently need to fill several roles. Consider volunteering today.

Check-in, Greeting, and Registration. Welcome your neighbors and guide through accessing our services.
  • Lake City - Wednesdays: 8:30-11:15am, 11:00am - 2:00pm
  • Lake City - Saturdays: 8:30-11:15am,11:00am - 2:00pm
  • Bitter Lake - Saturdays: 8:30-11:15am,11:00am - 2:00pm

Home Delivery Drivers
  • Thursdays: 2:00pm
  • Shifts can be every other week, or every week.
  • Usually takes only about an hour to 1.5 hours per shift.

Food Sorting and Warehouse
  • Lake City - Tuesdays 11:30am - 2:30pm
  • Bitter Lake - Thursdays 10:00am-2:00pm

Food Distribution
  • Lake City - Wednesday and Saturdays 11:00am-2:00pm extra need!
  • Lake City - Thursdays - 4pm – 6:45pm

To add a shift email: volunteers@northhelpline.org

Learn About Volunteering
Volunteer Application



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North Helpline: We are serving more people now than at the height of the pandemic

Monday, May 29, 2023


Their food resources are stressed right now, and they are in need of ongoing community assistance.

As they report:

During the COVID pandemic, federal assistance programs such as SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) were enhanced to help make food more accessible.

In March, those enhancements ended abruptly, leaving millions of families less food secure. We're now seeing what this means for us.

In simple terms, this has had a dramatic and direct impact on our community. Households saw, on average, a cut in food assistance by $105 per person.

From March 2022 to March 2023, after the cuts, unique households accessing our Lake City food bank increased by 43%, and by 51% at our Bitter Lake food bank.

We are serving more neighbors now than during the height of the pandemic. 

We need your support to keep food on the table and a roof overhead for all of us.

What We're Doing
  • We are investing in our food purchasing budget to keep our shelves stocked with nutritious food for everyone that comes to our food banks.
  • We're conducting a survey of those we serve, to better understand how we can be there for our community.
  • Our new Food Access Director, Louren, is working to keep North Helpline on the path towards enhanced service models, such as adopting a grocery store layout.

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Twin Ponds Community Garden Plant Sale May 19-20, 2023

Monday, May 15, 2023

PLANT SALE
TWIN PONDS FOOD BANK GARDEN

Friday 5/19 and Saturday 5/20
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

directly across the street from Aegis Senior Living

CASH ONLY

22 varieties of tomatoes
10 varieties of peppers
Squash and cucumbers
Tomatillos
Ground Cherries
Herb and flower starts
Dahlia tubers-limited

Please bring your own box or bag to carry them home!

#CommunityGarden #FoodBankGarden #GivingGarden #TwinPondsCommunityGarden #PlantSale #UrbanGarden


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Twin Ponds plant sale - flower and vegetable starts - May 19-20, 2023 10am to 4pm

Thursday, April 20, 2023


Annual plant sale benefitting the volunteer run food bank gardens at Twin Ponds Community Garden. 

Purchase affordable vegetable and flower starts for your own garden. All starts lovingly grown by volunteers with organic gardening practices. Cash only and small bills appreciated.

Friday May 19 and Saturday May 20, 2023 from 10am - 4pm 15401 1st Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155, across the street from Aegis Living.

Revised: plant sale hours are 10am to 4pm

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North Helpline Empty Bowls events raise nearly $40,000 for food banks and homelessness prevention programs

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Finding just the right bowl takes some time
Photo courtesy North Helpline

North Helpline held a multi-location "Empty Bowls" fundraiser March 24-26, 2023. (see our previous article) Pottery studios, school art classes, and individuals donated bowls.

Participants chose a bowl and purchased it for $30. The bowl was filled with soup and the money went to support North Helpline's programs.

They report:

Our 14th annual community meal was a hit!

We are so grateful for everyone in our community that came together to make our 14th annual community meal such a success.

The joy of finding just the right bowl
Photo courtesy North Helpline

Together we raised nearly $40,000 to support our two food banks and homelessness prevention programs!

Thank you to the many community partners that helped us raise essential funding. 
  • To our incredible soup donors without which there would be no meal to share. 
  • To all the amazing artisans, students, and local craftspeople that donate each and every one of our bowls. 
  • To the many local businesses, museums, and neighbors that donate to our online auction. 
  • Finally, the amazing crew of volunteers that help us plan and run Empty Bowls year after year.
Most of all, thank YOU for supporting our community meal and the neighbors we serve.



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Orientation for Twin Ponds food bank garden volunteers on Saturday March 25, 2023

Friday, March 17, 2023


City of Shoreline volunteers grow over 3,000 lbs. of produce each year for area food banks. 

Join the group of dedicated volunteers in their efforts to fight hunger in our community.

There will be a volunteer orientation on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 10:00am to 11:30am at Twin Ponds Community Garden, 14900 1st Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155 (parking lot across from Aegis Living). 

Learn about the garden and volunteer roles. If you want to volunteer, staff will be available to answer questions and help fill out paperwork. No need to register or RSVP, just show up.

All ages and abilities are welcome with weekday and weekend opportunities to grow, water, maintain, and harvest produce.




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NUHSA reports on The Hunger Cliff

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Diners at Ronald Commons Cafe
From NUHSA (North Urban Human Services Association)

As of March 1, 2023 SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits have been cut back to the their pre-pandemic levels, and many users' monthly food budgets have been slashed close to $100. 

Food scarcity in Washington nearly tripled during the pandemic, so food banks - and clients - were feeling the pinch even before the cuts. Potential state proposals (including HB 1784) would not replace the lost benefits, but are only a stop-gap aimed at backfilling an anticipated rise in demand at food banks for the next year or two.

Read more here, and make sure to support our local food banks and providers, including North Helpline, Hopelink, Hunger Intervention Program, and EastWest Food Rescue

Check out food resources and connections at Nourishing Networks Bothell/Kenmore and Nourishing Networks Woodinville, and find a list of Little Free Food Pantries for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park here.

Three hot meal programs are currently operating in Shoreline:
  • Ronald Commons Cafe: free community dinner held 5:30 - 6:45pm every Thursday at Ronald United Methodist Church, 17839 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133.
  • POPY’s Café, a community meal served every Wednesday 5 - 6:30pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 14514 20th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
  • St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church Community Dinners are provided every Tuesday, 6:00 - 6:30pm,  722 N 145th St, Shoreline.

And don't miss North Helpline's Empty Bowls fundraiser! More information here.



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The Little Demonstration Garden That Could

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Demonstration garden in LFP
Photo by Marty Byrne
By Marty Byrne

The Animal Acres Demonstration Garden is tucked away in south Lake Forest Park's Pfingst Animal Acres behind Town Center (and across from LFP Presbyterian). 

The garden is approximately 1200 square feet, situated along a split rail fence that borders the street. 

WSU Extension Master Gardeners and community volunteers plan, plant, and maintain the 10 raised beds, arbor, and containers to show how vegetables, herbs, fruit, and ornamentals can co-exist and enhance a garden space. 

The park features a popular walking path, so WSU Master Gardeners get quite a few questions from residents.

During the 2022 season, the garden yielded beyond our expectations, despite the periods of heavy rain, drought, and the other weather oddities we experienced. 

Here is a sample of the produce we harvested:
  • Apples (2 varieties): 20 lb
  • Grapes: 60 lb
  • Blueberries: 3 lb
  • Carrots (2 containers): 2.5 lb
  • Chard: 2 lb
  • Collards: 4 lb
  • Lettuce: 10 lb
  • Tomatoes (cherry): 3.5 lb
  • Herbs: approximately 3 lb
  • Total (includes yields not listed): 133 lb
All produce is donated to local food banks.

The apple "trees" are espaliered along the split rail fence, as is the grapevine. Plant choices for nine of the beds change each year, to try new varieties and adjust for rotation and changing conditions. 

Bed #10 is a well-established herb bed. The Master Gardeners and community volunteers installed a drip irrigation system in 2014 that greatly simplified watering chores at the garden.

In 2023, astrological spring is March 23. Meteorological spring arrives March 1, and Celtic spring on February 1. 

We are looking forward to planning and planting in the new season as early as possible! You can find the garden on our website at https://mgfkc.org/resources/map-of-mg-clinics-and-gardens

Marty Byrne is a WSU Extension Master Gardener



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BECU partnering with Shoreline Hopelink to collect non perishable food for the food bank

Saturday, December 17, 2022

BECU's Shoreline Neighborhood Financial Center is partnering with Hopelink Market this holiday season to collect non-perishable food items between now and December 31st.

Come in for a visit and to drop off your food donations at BECU 18336 Aurora Ave N in Gateway Plaza

BECU is a member of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce




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Town and Country Market matching donations to food banks

When you make a donation at the Town and Country checkstand, every dollar goes directly to local food banks. 

This holiday season, T/C will match your total donations -- up to $25,000 -- so those dollars go twice as far, doing twice as much good. Because great things happen when we give together. 

Ready to help? Just tell your checker! Donations will be accepted through the end of 2022.

Town and Country (formerly known as Central Market) is located on the upper level of Shoreline Place (Sears) on Westminster Way in Shoreline. It is a locally owned grocery store.



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Ridgecrest Neighborhood food drive - now to the end of December

Monday, November 21, 2022

The Ridgecrest Neighborhood is holding its annual food drive to benefit Shoreline Hopelink. 

From now through the end of December, drop off non-perishable food items at Cafe Aroma and Drumlin, both in the 500 block of NE 165th (near the Crest). Make cash donations on the webpage.

GOAL: 1000 pounds - $1000



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LFP Rotary Club goes on a Hunger Strike

Monday, November 14, 2022

Washington State has over 600,000 people that are struggling with hunger and over 1/3rd of those are children.

Harvest Against Hunger, a Rotary District 5030 project, and our local food banks desperately need our help and are currently running a large fundraiser in the greater Seattle area called HUNGER STRIKE.

This District-wide event is to raise money for these great organizations that help feed these families and their children.

Here is how to get involved:

They will be bowling at Spin Alley on Richmond Beach Road on Monday, November 21, 2022.



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