Thurston County Food Bank

IT IS THE MISSION OF THE THURSTON COUNTY FOOD BANK TO END HUNGER WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE THURSTON COUNTY FOOD BANK IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE HUNGER IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE FOOD BANK IS GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE UP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS. OUR SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THURSTON COUNTY TO INCLUDE THE URBAN CORE AND GROWTH AREAS AROUND LACEY, OLYMPIA AND TUMWATER. ADDITIONALLY OUR WORK EXTENDS INTO KITSAP, MASON AND LEWIS COUNTIES. WE WORK WITH RURAL FOOD BANKS IN ROCHESTER, TENINO, RAINER, AND YLEM. COLLABORATIONS INCLUDE ACTING AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ACCESSING FOOD THROUGH FOOD LIFELINE, NORTHWEST HARVEST, AND FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS. RECENT SERVICE EXPANSIONS INCLUDE ACTING AS THE REGIONAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATION SERVING LEWIS, MASON AND THURSTON COUNTIES AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES SUCH AS APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR THE BASIC FOOD PROGRAM.THE FORKIDS PROGRAM IS OUR WEEKEND MEAL BAG PROGRAM WHICH BRIDGES THE SERVICE GAP THAT CHILDREN WHO DEPEND ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAMS FACE EVERY WEEKEND. WE FEEL THAT THE KEY LONG TERM BENEFIT OF HAVING ADEQUATE NUTRITION IS IMPROVED HEALTH. THIS SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES KID FRIENDLY FOOD TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN FOR THE WEEKEND WITH THE HELP OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND VOLUNTEERS. IN 2022 WE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,800 CHILDREN ON A WEEKLY BASIS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.OUR DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE WEEKLY DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION OF NON-FOOD TO OUR PANTRIES, SATELLITE PARTNERS AND OUR MOBILE PROGRAM. DELIVERY SYSTEMS INCLUDE SHOPPING MODELS, PRE-PACKAGED FOOD BOXES AND BAGS AS WELL AS WALK UP AND DRIVE UP SERVICES. FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS FRESH PRODUCE, FROZEN PROTEIN, PERISHABLE DAIRY AND DELI ITEMS, FRESH BREAD AND PASTRIES AND SHELF-STABLE CANNED AND DRY GOODS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL AT NO COST. OUR NON-FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOCUSES ON HEALTH, HYGIENE AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWABLE PURCHASES WITH SNAP BENEFITS AND CAN INCLUDE ITEMS SUCH AS SOAP, SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER, DEODORANT, LAUNDRY SOAP, RAZORS, TOOTHPASTE AND TOOTHBRUSHES. IN 2022 WE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 62,000 INDIVIDUALS IN SOME CAPACITY.OUR WORK AS A REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATION GREATLY IMPROVES ACCESS TO FOOD FOR THE SMALLER HUNGER RELIEF AGENCIES IN KITSAP, MASON AND LEWIS COUNTIES SO THAT THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO OUR CLIENTS. OUR 30,000 SQUARE FOOT WAREHOUSE ACTS AS A RELIABLE LOCATION TO RECEIVE, STORE, PROCESS AND DELIVER FOOD TO OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE LIMITED SPACE AND CAPACITY. THIS FOOD IS SOURCED THROUGH OUR REGIONAL AND STATE-WIDE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK PROVIDING PERISHABLE, FROZEN AND SHELF-STABLE FOODS, AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE FOODS AND OFTEN HARD TO SOURCE ITEMS. IN 2022 WE REDISTRIBUTED OVER 5.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD INTO OUR REGION.