Hopelink provides a strong web of support throughout the
Eastern side of King County, with its emergency food services being an
important component of its vital services.
With 6 different food bank sites serving their community,
Hopelink’s a busy organization. WFC Board Member, Scott Milne, works as the
Food Program Manager for all of these sites.
Hopelink has an incredibly wise approach to food banking,
stating:
When
a family doesn't have enough food - the most basic human need - stability in
other areas is impossible. Hopelink provides food for survival and nutrition
education for self-sufficiency.
While
our food banks help families in crisis, we also believe in helping families to
make lasting change by learning about nutrition, safe food handling, and budgeting
for groceries.
The Kirkland food bank location is the hub of their
emergency food services. This location is open 24 hours a week, and offers
after-work hours to accommodate working families. They also offer home delivery
for neighbors in their community who are home bound. This location serves about
1200 unique households in the Kirkland area.
Hopelink is aiming long term to continue their increase in
fresh foods available to clients and they offer a dignified self-selection
shopping model (based on family size) at their Kirkland location. At this
location, they also have a large area for weighing, sorting, and storing food
until it go out on the shelves or to another Hopelink location. Their shared
inventory system among all the sites ensures efficiency and aims for minimizing
food waste.
An upcoming event that creates a lot of excitement in the
Hopelink food banks is their Christmas distribution program. On the 11th
of December, the staff and volunteers will begin transforming the food bank
into a gift wonderland. Then, on December 18-23, families will be able to come
‘shop’ for gifts for the children in their home.
See more images from our visit below!
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