Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Leonard Mabee occasionally relies on Darrington's food bank. Michael O'Leary / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Bil Vandel (left) and Jim Taylor of Darrington are clients of the Darrington Food Bank Michael O'Leary / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Virginia Slatton has been a volunteer with the food bank, located in the former Darrington city hall, since 1982.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, April 26, 2008 Food bank needs new home Darrington's crumbling building has been condemned By Gale Fiege Herald Writer DARRINGTON -- More than 100 families who rely on the Darrington food bank may need to look elsewhere for help if a new home for the program can't be found. The crumbling former city hall building, where Darrington Food Bank has been located for about 20 years, has been condemned by building inspectors hired by the town. The recent winter's lingering snow put pressure on an already leaky roof, causing structural damage, Mayor Joyce Jones said. Electrical wiring problems and mold and mildew also exist, she said. "We all thought the food bank would be there for the life of the building, but the end has come sooner than we expected," Jones said. There isn't any obvious mold in the food bank, which occupies what was the library in the 1940s-era building. Food is neatly stacked on old bookshelves, the freezers and refrigerators are humming away and regularly scheduled food distribution took place this week. Food bank volunteers want to stay put, but the mayor disagrees. "We recognize that the food bank is important to Darrington. It's well run and a great asset to the community," Jones said. "But given the environmental health and structural concerns, we can no longer allow public access to the building." The town, which rents space to Darrington Food Bank for $1 a year, would like to give the food bank time to find another home, Jones said. Temporary housing for the food bank might include modular buildings set up in the vacant lot next to the old city hall. The town council is adamant that it will work with the food bank any way possible, but the food bank is going to need help from the community, Jones said. And that will be tough. "Even though when we need to come together as a community we get a lot done, we don't have the economic base to do the things we did when we were a thriving timber town," she said. Virginia Slatton, a longtime food bank volunteer, said she believes the food bank will survive. However, a solution to its problems won't happen overnight. It takes time to apply for grants and other help, Slatton said. The timing is the problem. "At some point we may have no choice but to close," Slatton said. About 100 families, roughly 300 people, use the food bank during the course of a month, Slatton said. The next nearest food bank is 28 miles away in Arlington and many of those who count on the Darrington Food Bank don't have vehicles to drive to the neighboring city. Food bank president Cathrane Lyons is hoping the town will appeal the findings of the building inspectors and allow the food bank to stay put until a permanent home can be found. The food bank might be able to purchase a lot across the street from the town's post office and move in a modular building there for less than $200,000, Lyons said. "We think it's safe to remain here, and that's what we want to do until we can get a new building off the ground," Lyons said. "Until then, we can't just stuff a food bank into somebody's garage." Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com. Food bank fund A fund for the Darrington Food Bank has been set up as Darrington Community Services Inc. Building Fund at the Bank of America branch in Darrington. To volunteer, leave a message at the food bank, 360-436-1833.

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