EVERETT — Kathy Benson is just one of the tens of thousands of people in Snohomish County who depend on the generosity of neighbors.
Every month, Volunteers of America delivers a box of food to her apartment, part of a countywide effort by a coalition of food pantries to provide nutrition to the elderly, disabled and families in need.
“I’m so very fortunate that there are these types of programs out there for people who, through no fault of their own, need help,” she said.
Benson, 66, said she lives on disability payments of $900 a month. “I know for anybody else like me, they appreciate it so much,” she said.
Area food banks, however, say the struggling economy and a spike in requests for food staples have stretched their ability to keep up with demand this year.
The high demand for food continues during the summer months, a time when food drives and donations traditionally take a vacation.
So for the first time in Snohomish County, an end-of-summer food drive is being launched. Outsmart Hunger, organized by Volunteers of America and other area food pantries, continues through Aug. 31.
“They say the economy is making a turn and getting better,” said Sharon Paskewitz, director of basic needs services for Volunteers of America. Yet people are still feeling the effects of the weakened economy, she said.
As one example, in May, 28,224 families went to one of the 20 food pantries that are members of a countywide food bank coalition, she said. In June, the number jumped to 35,356 families.
Volunteers of America operates a warehouse in north Everett that distributes supplies to food banks throughout the county.
“This is a reminder that there are still vulnerable and hungry people in the community, and we’re trying to pull together resources to make a difference in the lives of people who are hungry,” Paskewitz said.
The need isn’t just reflected in the spike in demand for food between May and June.
“It’s the first-time users that are most alarming,” she said. “These are folks who in the past have not had to access food banks to meet their nutritional needs.”
This trend of increasing numbers of first-time users also is being experienced in Lake Stevens, said Jim Foster, director of the community food bank, which serves about 300 families a month.
“The seniors, the one and two in a (household), we’re not getting as many,” he said. “We’re getting more families.”
Some 250 to 280 families are now coming to the Lynnwood Food Bank each week, said Peg Amarok, administrative director. The number of people it serves has increased nearly 40 percent since fall of last year, she said.
Although the designated drop-off locations for this summer’s food drive are mostly in Everett and Mill Creek, the hope is that the Outsmart Hunger campaign will encourage people to donate to food banks throughout the county, said Bill Humphreys, a Volunteers of America vice president.
The goal is for the end-of-summer food drive to continue each year, he said, and gain support from communities throughout the county.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
Help the cause
Drop-off locations for the Outsmart Hunger Food Drive, which continues through the end of the month:
In Everett:
Safeway, 1715 Broadway
QFC, 2615 Broadway
Albertsons, 520 128th St. SW
The Dollar Tree, 4920 Evergreen Way
Sno-Isle Natural Food Co-op, 2804 Grand Ave.
In Mill Creek:
Safeway, 13314 Bothell-Everett Highway
In Lynnwood:
Albertsons, 19500 Highway 99; Aug. 29 only, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Most requested items: Canned soups, fruits, vegetables, meat, tuna, baby formula and baby food.
Food banks also appreciate cash donations, allowing them to buy supplies in bulk.
If you can’t stop by one of the food drop off locations, call 211, the county’s social service hotline, to find the location of the nearest community food bank.
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