MALTBY — They’ve been helping to provide meals for people in their community for almost as long as there’s been a food bank here.
Mary Rupert, 86, and Elsie Mann, 79, have been working for more than two decades with the volunteer-run Maltby Food Bank in unincorporated Snohomish County.
The Maltby Food Bank was established by Fran Walster with the help of area churches in 1993.
“We were eager to help her make it a go,” said Mann, who used to attend the same church as Walster.
Soon after starting the food bank, Walster recruited her sister-in-law, Rupert, to help with the nonprofit’s first Thanksgiving.
“And I just kept going,” Rupert said.
Now she volunteers at the food bank Mondays, Thursdays and other days as needed. She organizes food donations as they come in and sees to it that groceries are available for at least 110 families each week. Rupert said meeting the people who come in is the most rewarding part of her work.
“There’s all kinds of people and most of them are wonderful,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mann helps organize auctions to raise money for the food bank. She’s planned seven of the eight auctions it has held.
“I appreciate the opportunity to give a little service in a quiet way,” Mann said. “It’s really a benefit for many in the community.”
The food bank is looking for people willing to help with this year’s auction, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Golf Club at Echo Falls in Snohomish.
Volunteers are needed to help with auction planning, decorations, invitations, bringing in donations and other work. The amount of time committed is up to each volunteer.
The food bank asks for one much-needed item at the auction every year. In 2015, it is asking people to donate produce throughout the year.
The food bank gets most of its supply from food drives and drop-off donation locations. It is among 20 local organizations that belong to the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition.
The Maltby Food Bank also puts on events and gives out packages for special occasions. For Easter, Rupert and other volunteers filled more than 100 bags and baskets with candy. At Christmas, they have a party with Santa Claus and gifts for children.
Bags of party supplies and toys are given to children age 12 and younger for their birthdays. New mothers receive layettes with blankets and baby supplies.
Rupert said she enjoys giving out sugar-free candy to diabetics. That’s something not many other food banks offer, she said.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports.
Help out
People interested in volunteering or making a donation for the auction can call 206-854-1182 or email kristiwillson@msn.com. For other information, go to the Maltby Food Bank website at http://maltbyfoodbank.org.
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