Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank

TO PROVIDE BASIC NEED SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ORDER TO INCREASE SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

ISSAQUAH FOOD AND CLOTHING BANK: OUR FOODBANK IS A SELF-SELECT GROCERY STORE MODEL. OUR ATMOSPHERE ENCOURAGES PERSONAL CHOICE, AND WE STRIVE TO MEET OUR CLIENTS' DIETARY AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. WE OFFER A WIDE SELECTION OF FRESH PRODUCE, CANNED GOODS, FROZEN MEAT, DAIRY PRODUCTS, DRY GOODS, AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. IN 2021, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER A MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD AND OVER 50,000 BAGS OF GROCERIES. OUR LOW-BARRIER MODEL ENSURES THAT ANYONE IN NEED OF FOOD CAN RECEIVE IT.WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO LOCAL HOMES, FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS OUR STORE. GROCERIES TO GO IS A FOOD DELIVERY PROGRAM FOR CITIZENS THAT ARE HOMEBOUND, AND IN 2021 EXPANDED THIS PROGRAM TO SERVE 120 HOUSEHOLDS A WEEK. OUR CLOTHING BANK PROVIDES CLOTHING FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, AS WELL AS, BASIC HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO THE EAST KING COUNTY COMMUNITY. WE ADDITIONALLY SUPPLY CHILDREN'S CLOTHING AND OTHER SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN UP TO 12 YEARS OLD THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH EASTSIDE BABY CORNER. IN 2021, CLOTHING WAS PROVIDED THROUGH A SERIES OF POP-UP EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EASTSIDE FIRE & RESCUE. IN ALL, 1,085 CLOTHING SERVICES WERE PROVIDED. OUR CURRENT FOOD AND CLOTHING SERVICE AREA SPANS OVER 16 ZIP CODES, INCLUDING ISSAQUAH, SAMMAMISH, AND PARTS OF RENTON. WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO ASSIST ANYONE COMING TO OUR DOOR WITH FOOD AND BASIC NEEDS SUPPLIES. THIS PROGRAM THRIVES FROM THE PARTNERSHIPS WE DEVELOP WITH LOCAL SERVICE GROUPS, GOVERNMENTS (CITIES OF ISSAQUAH AND SAMMAMISH), BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, AND A SOLID VOLUNTEER BASE.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: THE ISSAQUAH FOOD & CLOTHING BANK PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO NEED RESOURCES BEYOND FOOD AND HYGIENE ITEMS. WE PARTNER WITH ISSAQUAH COMMUNITY SERVICES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH EVICTION PREVENTION AND UTILITY BILL SUPPORT. WE ALSO HAVE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AVAILABLE TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. IN 2021, WE HAD A FULL-TIME CASE MANAGER WHO PRIMARILY WORKED WITH THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM FUNDED BY KING COUNTY EASTSIDE FIRE & RESCUE, AND A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR WHO PRIMARILY SUPPORTED HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. OUR CASE MANAGEMENT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CONNECT CLIENTS WITH REFERRALS FOR HOUSING AND LOW COST MEDICAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS, SUPPORT FOR OBTAINING IDS AND CELL PHONES, ASSISTANCE WITH DSHS BENEFIT APPLICATIONS, SUPPORTIVE MOVE-IN COSTS FOR RECENTLY HOUSED FAMILIES, MAIL SERVICE AT OUR OFFICE, AND BASIC NECESSITIES INCLUDING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT STABLE HOUSING. IN 2021, 300 PEOPLE RECEIVED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT IFCB, AND WE MADE 250 OUTREACH VISITS TO UNHOUSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

YOUTH PROGRAMS: WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SERVE PRE-SCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. OUR POWER PACKS PROGRAM SENDS STUDENTS IN THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT HOME WITH KID-FRIENDLY FOOD EVERY FRIDAY. 6,600 POWER PACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS IN 2021.EVERY SUMMER WE HAVE A 10-WEEK SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A WEEKS' WORTH OF BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS. IN 2021, 485 CHILDREN WERE SERVED BY SUMMER LUNCH.DURING ALL THE WEEK-LONG BREAKS FROM SCHOOL (FALL BREAK, WINTER BREAK, SPRING BREAK), WE OFFER LUNCH FOR THE BREAK, WHEREBY WE PROVIDE ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS WITH A WEEK OF BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS. WE DISTRIBUTED 850 FOOD PACKS DURING 2021 LUNCH FOR THE BREAK.THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION, WE HELP DELIVER BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO STUDENTS IN THE ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS PROGRAM IS CALLED TOOLS4SCHOOL. 1,000 BACKPACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS IN FALL OF 2021.IN DECEMBER, WE COORDINATE A ONCE-A-YEAR PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WHICH THEY CAN GIVE TO THEIR CHILDREN. HISTORICALLY, HOLIDAY GIFT BARN WAS HELD IN ISSAQUAH'S PICKERING BARN, WHICH WAS SET UP LIKE A STORE THAT PARENTS COULD ACCESS TO SHOP FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS. IN 2021, IFCB DISTRIBUTED GIFT CARDS TO FAMILIES, WHICH THEY COULD USE TO SHOP FOR GIFTS OF THEIR CHOOSING. THIS PROGRAM SERVED 1,275 CHILDREN IN 2021.