It’s the busiest time of year for Snohomish County food banks, with record-setting demand and a number of food drives kicking off or wrapping up around the county.
“There’s certainly a lot more people willing to put energy into food drives this time of year, which is welcome,” said Bill Kraut, supervisor at the Volunteers of America Food Bank in Everett. “I would say that probably a third of all the food a food bank receives comes in during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.”
The spike in donations is accompanied by a rise in demand.
The Monday before Thanksgiving was the food bank’s busiest day ever, Kraut said, setting a record for the amount of food given out — roughly six tons.
“We very much appreciate the extra help this time of year because not only is this the time with the most donations, it’s when they’re needed most,” he said. “We see people we don’t see any other time of the year.”
Family finances are pulled tight around holiday gifts, meals and travel, he said, not to mention dark nights and cold weather putting extra strain on bills for low-income families. People who usually don’t rely on food banks are stopping in to pick up supplies for holiday dinners, along with the basics to get them by in between.
Items needed year-round by food banks include: juice, canned fruits and vegetables, tuna and tuna helper, flour, vegetable oil, baby formula, canned soups, peanut butter, taco shells and ramen noodles. Low-salt and sugar-free food options also are important for people with health problems or special diets.
Along with food, hygiene and household supplies like disposable diapers, hand soap, laundry detergent and toothbrushes and toothpaste are needed.
Schools, churches, businesses and clubs are rallying to bring in donations. Some drives are finishing, while others start this month. There are one-day events and month-long efforts.
At Everett High School, the annual student-run food drive started on Halloween and ran through the first three weeks of November. Students collected supplies for 200 families, providing each with a Thanksgiving meal and enough nonperishable food to last about two weeks.
While Everett students were delivering their donations, student leaders at Granite Falls High School were getting ready for the district’s annual food drive, which began Monday and runs through Dec. 15. Last year, the drive brought in more than $11,000 and 26,000 items — enough to provide food and personal items for more than 180 families for a month, according to the district. Students hope to collect at least $10,000 and 20,000 items this year.
“Every family that we serve is a Granite Falls School District family,” coordinator Eric Dinwiddie said. “We’ll probably have over 200 families this year.”
The student-led food drive has been a yearly event since 2004 and was inspired by Dinwiddie’s experience as a student at Cascade High School in Everett, which has put on holiday food drives for more than 50 years.
People can donate to the Granite Falls food drive at the high school, 1401 100th St. NE, or any of the other schools. There are also drop boxes at local businesses, and students plan to stand outside grocery stores to collect donations.
“Every year it’s more challenging,” Dinwiddie said. “The sheer mass of it is growing. Every year there’s more families, more kids, more need.”
Other food drives are planned around the county, and most accept donations of toys, household supplies and cash as well as nonperishable food.
“Everybody wants to do food drives at the same time,” Kraut said.
But though the holidays are the busiest time for food banks, help is needed year-round, he said. Donations gathered in November and December usually last until early spring. In March, sometimes sooner, supplies start to run out.
For people who want to donate throughout the year, a list of more than 30 ongoing food drives can be found at www.voaww.org. Food banks also accept donations during their open hours. Information about food bank locations can be found at www.win211.org or by calling 211.
Details about upcoming food drives also can be submitted to the Herald’s weekly Community Extra Calendar by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com.
Here’s a look at some of the food drives coming up this month in Snohomish County:
In Arlington, donations will be collected from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Cascade Valley Hospital, 330 S. Stillaguamish, and during the city’s Hometown Holidays celebration Saturday in Legion Park, 114 N. Olympic Ave.
The Lake Stevens School District accepts food and money donations during the annual Dickens Fair, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday ?at Cavelero Mid High School, 8220 24th St.
A popup Santa Photo Shop raises funds for the Edmonds Food Bank every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas at Fourth Ave. N. Donations for the Edmonds Food Bank can also be brought to one of two benefit concerts, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturday in the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N.
People can stuff a bus with food and toys for the Everett food bank from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 14 at Fred Meyer, 12906 Bothell-Everett Highway.
More buses are ready to be filled with donations in Stanwood and Camano Island during three drives on Saturday at the Stanwood QFC, Stanwood Haggen and Camano Plaza IGA.
Maris and Associates at 10512 19th Ave. SE, Suite 101, in Everett is collecting food donations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays until Dec. 23.
People who live around Lake Ki can leave nonperishable food items on their docks on Saturday. A boat will come around to pick up the donations at 2 p.m. There are also drop-offs at Country Burger and Roadhouse Bar &Grill.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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