DARRINGTON — The food bank may have found a savior in First Baptist Church.
The congregation has offered its basement as a temporary location for the Darrington Food Bank, which is losing its longtime home in the former city hall building.
The crumbling building was condemned because of concerns over structural damage, faulty electrical wiring and mold. The town has asked the food bank to move out, despite pleas from food bank volunteers to allow the program to stay in the old building.
Food bank president Cathrane Lyons said she is cautiously optimistic about relocating to the church. However, such a move depends on the final OK of Snohomish Health District officials, she said.
“We have some hoops to go through, but the church’s offer is very nice,” Lyons said. “I think we can be in compliance with the health department there, so we think it’s going to work out.”
Michael DeLuca, pastor of First Baptist Church, said he and other church leaders agreed to offer the basement for a six-month period out of concern for food bank patrons. About 100 Darrington-area families, roughly 300 people, rely on the food bank during the course of a month.
“In these tough economic times, we want to make sure people in our community have access to food,” DeLuca said. “We are privileged to offer our help.”
Other town residents have come forward to offer to help the food bank make the move, Mayor Joyce Jones said.
“This town is fantastic. It makes you feel good to know that folks care,” Jones said.
The next challenge will be to find a permanent new home for the food bank program.
Jones has contacted the Everett office of U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., to ask for ideas for funding help, and she plans to make other calls soliciting aid, she said.
An offer of property across the street from the post office, where the food bank could locate modular units, has fallen through, Lyons said.
“A lot of people don’t understand what it takes to run a food bank,” Lyons said. “But we’re still hoping for a solution.”
In meantime, the town has agreed to keep the food bank’s freezers and refrigerators running at old city hall until a moving day can be arranged, Lyons said.
“We hope to serve our food bank clients later in the month,” Lyons said.
Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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