Friday, July 10, 2009

Clark County Food Bank Nears 3 Million Pounds of Food Distributed This Past Year

The numbers are in for the 2008-2009 fiscal year at the Clark County Stop Hunger Warehouse. Demand for emergency food continues to grow,as the amount of pounds distributed by the warehouse to the local food pantries totaled 2,966,031 pounds.

The cash value of this food amounted to $3,491,593. Three major sources of this total came from two food drives,theWalk and Knock in December and Letter Carriers Drive in
May, along with the Fresh Alliance Program, where local grocery stores donate product to the Food Bank that is near pull date and can be frozen and sent to the mini food pantries for inclusion in the emergency food boxes. This program totaled 345,834 pounds last year, that otherwise would have been discarded.

The Stop Hunger Warehouse, which is currently managed by the Salvation Army, made it possible for over 90,000 emergency food boxes to be provided to needy families, seniors and individuals throughout Clark County. This was made possible by over 110,000 volunteer hours contributed by community members who work at the food pantries, drive trucks to pick up perishables at the grocery stores, and help out with company,civic and church group food drives during the year.

As the demand continues to rise, the Clark County Food Bank is underway with plans to construct a new Food Distribution Center that will expand the size of the facility from its current 8,000 square feet to 22,000 square feet. Cost of this new facility is estimated to be $3.5 million dollars.

For more information on how you can help us to alleviate hunger and its root causes in southwest Washington or to schedule a tour of our current warehouse, contact us at 360-693-0939.

No comments: