We were joined by our own, Carla Rankin, as well as Mason Shepherd from the Arlington Community Food Bank. The Food Bank’s mission is “is to help end hunger in our community at its root cause.” From October 2021 through October 2022, the Food Bank served more than 25,000 individuals and over 8,000 households. That works out to 959,416 total pounds of food shared in the past year!

 

As long-time supporters of the Arlington Community Food Bank, our club was pleased to receive an update from Carla and Mason. While there are a few members of our club who serve as members on the Board of the Food Bank, the rest of our club may not know the reach our Food Bank has in the Arlington Community, so these presentations are a great reminder that our work to help programs like the Food Bank is not over.

 

In Washington, 1 in 5 Washingtonians rely on their local food bank, so the Arlington Community Food Bank makes it a priority to provide access to food for anyone that is in need. In the simplest of terms, the food bank serves anyone who needs help in order to end hunger in our community. More particularly, they see college kids looking for support due to rising tuition costs and increased rents, single parents, multi-generational families, foster families, young couples, unhoused individuals, and as of late, refugees from all over the globe. Beyond providing access to food, the Arlington Community Food Bank has worked hard to limit insecurities in individuals looking for assistance by making their space into a food bank market. In other words, people can feel as if they are going to their local market where they have autonomy in their shopping. The staff and volunteers at the Food Bank knows that people who need assistance can look just like anyone of us, so they do not ask for any identification to receive food.

 

They also try and reach people where they are at. With that, the Food Bank acquired a Mobile Market that goes to various parts of the community through partnerships with the fire department and the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians for mobile pick-ups throughout the coverage area.

 

Arlington Community Food Bank is one of 300 official food banks in the State of Washington. The Food Bank is subject to federal and state regulations to ensure the facility is handling food safely and meeting the needs of the community. Within the food bank community, the Arlington Community Food Bank has a strong reputation for their facility and their work in the community, which also includes individuals and families from Lakewood, Silvana, and Darington.

 

The Food Bank’s success is a result of hard work from their staff and volunteers, as well as key partnerships. The Food Bank receives support from corporate, civic and individual donors. In particular, the City of Arlington has been a wonderful partner and the Market sits on the City of Arlington Property. Our Club has also been a longtime supporter of the Food Bank and as of recently they made a $25,000 donation for the Meals till Monday program, where the Food Bank makes 800 four-pound packs a week for families to take for the weekend. Arlington Community Food Bank works hard to work with local farmers and farming conservation programs, as well as local businesses in order to give right back to the community.

 

The Arlington Community Food Bank does more than provide food to the community, they are also proactive in looking to change policy within the State. The work with agency partners such as, Food Life Line and Northwest Harvest to “campaign for public policies and programs that address hunger at its root causes.” A recent victory was to change regulations to help get families more access to baby formula.

 

But, even with the success of the Food Bank, they still have their challenges. They are starting to serve more and more, often with less food coming in. Lucky for our community, Carla operates the Food Bank with foresight, so they try to continually have a 9-month reserve supply of food. But, as more are served and less food is donated, the more that reserve gets used up. With Covid policies coming to an end the Food Bank is losing support they were able to rely on the past couple of years.

 

We can help by spreading the word, volunteering, placing food collection bins in your business, and donating. Keep an eye out for more information regarding this year’s Christmas Wish. Registration begins annually November 1st through December 1st and an open “shopping center”, like the Market, experience is created for families to shop mid-December.