Monroe food bank to close for renovations

Published 12:18 am Thursday, July 2, 2009

MONROE — The Sky Valley Food Bank plans to close next week for renovations.

People who use the food bank should visit Friday between 9 to 11:30 a.m. to pick up extra food to get through the closure, said Julie Morris, executive director.

With the city’s help, the food bank received a $117,000 federal grant to replace a leaky roof, build extra storage and widen a delivery area.

The food bank has been doling out food since 1989, and there just isn’t enough space, she said. Numerous large trucks deliver food daily and renovations will include a wider area for safer and easier delivery, she said.

The improvements couldn’t come soon enough.

Nearly double the number of people are visiting the food bank this year, Morris said. Last year an average of 2,834 people visited each month. Now, that number is hovering around 5,200.

“Our numbers shot up,” she said.

Food bank workers are seeing an influx of families, she said.

“We are used to seeing senior citizens in crisis and those who are low-income for various reasons but we are not used to seeing these large numbers of families in crisis.”

The food bank plans to post emergency numbers for people who show up next week. People can also call the state’s 211 line for help finding other sources of food.

Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.