The Highline Public Schools recently held a district-wide food drive for the first time this year, bringing in 6,365 pounds of food and over $2,400 in cash, with all proceeds going to three area food banks: White Center, Des Moines, and Highline Food Banks.

“It’s a great start,” said White Center Food Bank’s Resource Coordinator Audrey Zemke. “Now that we have the basics in place, I’m excited to see what we can do next year!”

And, according to the Highline School District, they definitely will do it again next year.

Here is a breakdown of the results, by area:

The White Center Food Bank received a total of 2,297 pounds of food and $39.00.

• 561 pounds of food from Cedarhurst Elementary
• 320 pounds of food from the Honor Society at Evergreen High School
• 1,237 pounds of food & $15.00 from Hazel Valley Elementary
• 100 pounds of food & $24.00 from ERAC
• 79 pounds of food from Shorewood Elementary

The Highline Area Food Bank received a total of 2,684 pounds of food and $365.00.

• 943 pounds of food from Gregory Heights Elementary
• 461 pounds of food from CHOICE
• 239 pounds of food from Highline High School
• 511 pounds of food and $160.00 from Transportation
• 530 pounds of food from Facilities
• $205.00 from ERAC

The Des Moines Area Food Bank received a total of 1,384 pounds of food and $2,003.93.

• 1,384 pounds of food from Parkside Elementary.
• $1,805.00 from Des Moines Elementary’s penny drive
• $140.00 from ERAC

Our friends at the White Center Food Bank report on their blog that they’re working with the White Center Community Development Association, as well as with Lee’s Produce and Samway Market to create the “White Center Healthy Food Gift Certificate Program,” which will provide $5 gift certificates to food bank customers so they can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local produce vendors.

This program will be launched May 6th at Samway Market, which is located at 9811 15th Ave SW as well as at Lee’s Produce, located at 9435 Delridge Way SW.

Here’s the full scoop:

The White Center Food Bank, in partnership with the White Center Community Development Association, along with Lee’s Produce and Samway Market, is pleased to announce implementation of the White Center Healthy Food Gift Certificate Program. This unique program will provide $5.00 gift certificates to food bank customers that will allow them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables through local produce vendors.

“Food bank customers often lack adequate access to fresh fruits and vegetables because of their high cost. As a result, low-income people frequently have higher rates of a variety of diet-related health problems such as type 2-diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease and stroke,” said Rick Jump, Executive Director of the White Center Food Bank.

“We’re excited to work with the White Center Food Bank to also support our two goals with our Fresh Marketplace Initiative: to increase access to healthy food options locally for residents as well support the economic development of our small businesses in White Center, “said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association.

Samway Market and Lee’s Produce were selected to participate in this pilot program because they specialize in produce that suits immigrants’ desires for traditional fruits and vegetables which are not always readily available in local supermarkets. The White Center Food Bank currently provides food for approximately 1,500 families each month, many of them immigrants and refugees.

This pilot project is funded by the WCFB, and donations to sustain it would be greatly appreciated. To make a donation online or for more information about the White Center Food Bank’s many programs, visit www.whitecenterfoodbank.org or contact Rick Jump at (206) 762-2848. Donations may also be mailed to WCFB, 10829 8th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146.

This program will be launched on May 6, 2010 at 10:00am at Samway Market located at 9811 15th Ave SW and at 10:30am at Lee’s Produce located at 9435 Delridge Way SW.

More info on the WCFB website here.

The Highline School District will be holding a food drive the week of April 26 – 30, with donations going to both the White Center and Des Moines Food Banks.

According to a release, each school will set a goal, in pounds, for their individual food drive.

With the Feinstein Foundation Challenge still active, donations could effectively be doubled through April 30th.

“This is an exciting opportunity to make an impact on the needs of our community members,” said Audrey Zemke of the White Center Food Bank. “The Alan Feinstein Foundation splits one million dollars in matching funds for all monetary and food donations through April 30.”

So parents, start scouring your cupboards for some extra food for your kids to bring to school.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline School District food drive.

WHEN: The week of April 26 – 30 (Mon-Fri).

WHERE: All Highline Public Schools.

INFO: From a release:

Help fight hunger! Did you know one in five families with children in our region does not have enough money to buy food?

During the week of April 26 – 30, you have a chance to help change that! Highline Public Schools will partner with the Des Moines and White Center Food Banks to raise food and funds for the hungry.

Each school will set a goal, in pounds, for their individual food drive.

We can do this! Stamp out hunger in our community!

Bring non-perishable items…

OR

CASH! ($1 = $4 buying power!)

You can also donate online:

• www.myfoodbank.org (Des Moines)
• www.whitecenterfoodbank.org

Or send donations to:

Highline Food Bank
P.O. Box 66427
Burien, WA 98166

According to Gary McNeil, Boy Scout Troop #375 of Burien collected 392 pounds of food in the “Scouting for Food” drive on Saturday, March 20th.

The troop, sponsored by St. Francis of Assisi Church, donated all the food to the White Center Food Bank. Cub Scout Pack 375 helped by handing out bags the previous Saturday, March 13.

The food will help the food bank serve over 1,500 families this month.

“There were many generous households in the neighborhood around Seahurst Park,” McNeil said.

This year Boy Scouts of America is celebrating their 100th Anniversary, and helping feed hungry families is one of the many ways that Scouts serve their community. The Chief Seattle Council has planned many service projects and events to celebrate this milestone – for more information check out their website here: www.seattlebsa.org.

Here are some pics Gary sent us:

The Burien/White Center Rotary Club is holding a Food Bank Benefit concert featuring the Boeing Employees Choir on Friday, Dec. 4th at 7:30pm at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien.

All proceeds from this show will benefit both the Highline and White Center Food Banks.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien/White Center Rotary fundraiser concert featuring the Boeing Employees Choir

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 4th beginning at 7:30pm

WHERE: Highline Performing Arts Center, located next to Highline High School at 401 S. 152nd Street in Burien.

COST: Please bring non-perishable food donations to help feed your hungry neighbors during the holidays!

INFO: From the Boeing Employees Choir website:

A good cause, and a great venue, the Burien/White Center Rotary Club has asked us to put on a concert for the Burien community in order to collect non-perishable food items for the local Food Banks.

Bring a food donation and bring a friend!

And forward this invite so we can pack the house and the food bank!

The Boeing Employees Choir is a concert choral group serving as The Boeing Company’s ambassador in song, sharing the gift of music with audiences in the Puget Sound Region of Washington State – as well as throughout the world. The choir has existed since the early 1940s. Today, we make about 25 appearances each year.

Composed primarily of Boeing employees, retirees and their families, our choir is a 501c(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.

The Burien/White Center Rotary Club, founded in 1955, has a long and rich history of service to the community.

Over this 50+ year duration, club members have volunteered countless hours of service and generated hundreds of thousands of dollars which have been distributed back into the community.

For more information, visit their website here.

The White Center Blog, along with our sister site The B-Town Blog, look forward to seeing as many of our Readers and Neighbors as possible this coming Saturday, Nov. 14th, at the White Center Albertsons for a special Thanksgiving-related food drive: our 2nd Annual Turkeys N’ Diapers Fundraiser!

It’ll run from 10am to 4pm, and all donations will go to the White Center Food Bank (food) and WestSide Baby (diapers & baby stuff).

Albertsons is located at 16th Avenue SW and SW 106th Street in White Center.

We’ll be collecting turkeys and diapers (yes, that’s correct: turkeys and diapers!).

Important note about the diapers – says Nancy Woodland, Executive Director of WestSide Baby:

“We only need diapers in large sizes, Size 5 or 6 or Pull-ups in size 4T. Thanks!”

Stuffing and canned vegetables and other Thanksgiving-related food items would be greatly appreciated.

Donations in the form of cash and checks (made out to “White Center Food Bank”) will also be gratefully accepted.

The crew will be lead again this year by the blog’s own Bart Bryan, host of the recurring interview segments “Whaddaya Think?”

“We raised over $1,100 last year. Let’s double that this year!” said Bart. “Folks around here can really use the help!”

The White Center Food Bank will make available the food, as they do year-round, to nearby families in need.

The Food Bank works hand-in-hand with WestSide Baby, a nonprofit organization that collects previously-owned items for children and babies and distributes them free of charge to South King County families in need.

In 2008 WestSide Baby served more than 12,000 children.

“See you all Saturday at the White Center Albertsons!” says Bart.

Here’s year-round contact information:

White Center Food Bank
10829 8th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146
www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
Phone: 206-762-2848

And:

WestSide Baby
10032 15th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98146
(206) 767-1662
www.westsidebaby.org

Click image (or here) to download a printable PDF poster (feel free to print & post!)

The 17th annual Letter Carriers’ National Food Drive will be this Saturday, May 9th, and residents are asked to leave non-perishable food donations at their mailboxes.

Food donations stay local, with over 13,000 pounds going to the White Center Food Bank from the White Center/West Seattle area.

According to the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), this is the nation’s largest one-day effort to stamp out hunger.

The postal union is seeking to exceed last year’s record 73.1 million pounds of food delivered to community food banks and pantries, and this is an easy way for people to donate.

NALC President William H. Young said the food donations from postal customers will help millions of American families caught in the downward economic spiral that has caused high unemployment and tightened credit. The drive is especially important for children who, during the summer months, see most school lunch programs suspended.

“This is a difficult time for many families. It is critical that the food banks and pantries across the nation have sufficient supplies to provide nutritious meals for the growing number of people needing assistance,” Young said. “Letter carriers take pride in delivering the generous donations of their postal customers to those in need in their community.”

Donations will be collected along postal routes in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions. Citizens should leave non-perishable food donations – such as canned meat and fish, soup, cereals, pasta and rice – in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday before their letter carrier arrives. Glass containers and expired items should be avoided. (In Chicago and New York City, residents should take their donation to their local post office or make an online donation.)

Over 120 million postcards, sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company and the U.S. Postal Service’s Priority Mail, have been mailed to postal customers to remind them of the drive. Other national supporters are Valpak, United Way of America, the AFL-CIO and the Feeding America food bank network, formerly known as America’s Second Harvest.

White Center Heights Park Community Garden is back for a second year, and there is still some space available.

The garden is located by the White Center Food Bank, at SW 102nd and 7th Ave SW (see map below).

Each raised garden space is 7 feet by 3 feet and assigned at no cost to community members or groups.

The goal of each garden, according to community distributed flyers, is to “enable families to be self-sufficient, well nourished and connected with the larger community.”

Gardeners can plant and manage their spaces between April 21st and March 14th, 2010. Each bed is organic and only organic fertilizers and non-toxic pest control can be used. While pesticides are not allowed, organic resources and tools will be made available for gardeners as needed.

For more information contact Audrey Zemke at 206-762-2848 or email Audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org.

View Larger Map

Children from West Seattle’s Lafayette Elementary School, once attended by the White Center Blog’s own Mark Neuman, held a very successful food drive for the White Center Food Bank, with over 2,100 items donated last week.

Here’s more from their press release:

The Lafayette Elementary student council had a new idea this year while planning their annual food drive for the White Center Food Bank. They held a competition to see which class could collect the most items and kept track of the donations by teacher on a bulletin board in the front lobby. The donations quickly filled the collection barrel and started to fill the school’s front lobby.

All of the classes participated, but two classes led the competition: Ms. Rollin’s class collected the most items (251) and Mr. Beal’s class (203) came in second place.

Over 2,100 items total were collected school-wide.

Last week, the White Center Food Bank team had to make two van trips to transport all of the collected food down to their facility in White Center.

Lafayette’s student council sponsors two community service projects a year–one in winter and one in spring. James Morrison, Macy Crooks and Shelby Walker (in the photo) were the student council officers in charge of promoting the drive, keeping track of how many items were brought in, and updating a bulletin board daily to monitor our success. A huge thank you to these student leaders, Mimi Armistead (staff lead for Lafayette’s student council) and to all the generous Lafayette families who donated food.

Since this effort was so successful, Lafayette is going to continue collecting food for the White Center Food Bank (with a goal of a barrel a month) for the rest of the school year.

Lafayette Elementary is a Seattle Public School located at 2645 California Ave. SW. in West Seattle. For more information about Lafayette or their ongoing partnership with the White Center Food Bank, please contact Virginia Turner at 206-252-9500. For more information about White Center Food Bank, check out their web site at: www.whitecenterfoodbank.org; you can also donate directly online here.

Way to go kids!

Burien’s El Dorado West Retirement Community is playing Santa for the White Center Food Bank this month by placing a “Giving Tree” in their front lobby.

Everyone is invited to pick a card from the tree and purchase a gift or give cash donations for that person, then bring the gift back to be placed underneath it.

El Dorado is also partnering with White Center’s Evergreen High School Football Team’s “Wolverines” to be Santa’s Helpers.

The “Giving Tree” will be in the front lobby of El Dorado West through December 31st, so everyone has plenty of time to participate. You can stop by El Dorado during business hours – they’re located at 1010 SW 134th Street, at the corner of Amnbaum and SW 134th in Burien (map below).

“The Wolverines” will be delivering the gifts to the Senior Patrons of the WCFB on January 8th.

In March of ’08 the WCFB implemented a “Seniors Only Day” for those over 60. Senior clients can receive food that helps them meet their unique dietary needs and builds in special social time.

Every month residents of El Dorado West volunteer during this time by serving coffee in what they call “Seniors Helping Seniors.”

And remember, food banks are really feeling the pinch of the recession, so any donation you can make is most appreciated, especially by your hungry neighbors.

Here’s how to reach both of our local food banks:

• White Center Food Bank
  10829 8th Ave SW
  Seattle WA 98146
  (206) 762-2848
  Donate directly online here
• Highline Area Food Bank
  18300 4th Ave S
  Burien, WA 98148
  Phone: (206) 433-9900

Our “Turkeys N’Diapers” Fundraiser Saturday (Nov. 22nd) was a resounding success, with an impressive final tally of $1,170 in cash and food/baby item donations raised for the White Center Food Bank and WestSide Baby.

All of us here at the White Center Blog and B-Town Blogs send a huge THANKS to everyone who helped out!

Some details:

• Cash & checks donated: $201.00
• Food donations: huge rush at the end, with folks bringing shopping carts full of food; total # of food items donated approx. 606lbs (between 400-500 cans/packages) from Thanksgiving food items to soup to sugar to marshmallows and more – equal to $969 worth of food!
• $1,170 total donations for the day!

If you’d like to donate to the White Center Food Bank, you can do so directly online here anytime.

To donate to WestSide Baby, please click here.

We know that many hungry and needy families in the White Center/Burien areas will most certainly be thankful, and this couldn’t have been done without our loyal and generous Readers!

Our “Turkeys N’Diapers” fundraiser ends at 4pm today, and so far we’ve raised over $400 in both cash and food donations for both the White Center Food Bank and WestSide Baby!

Here’s a little video shot by Mark Neuman and featuring Bart “On the Street” Bryan as pitchman, along with WCB friend Steve Costanzo and Rick Jump of the White Center Food Bank:

Some details:

• Our donation table is in front of store doors
• We’re there until 4pm, so come on down!

View Larger Map

When Shorewood Foursquare Church learned about the food shortage at the White Center Food Bank, they decided to take action and offer a Food Drive.

Sue Cross, Administrator for Shorewood Foursquare Church, explains:

“When we became aware of this food shortage crisis, we just had to get involved. We want to help get the word out to everyone in the community, to build awareness, and are asking everyone to bring food donations.”

According to the White Center Food Bank, they are in a time of extreme need – client numbers are increasing dramatically; they served 1,690 families last month, which is a 66% increase over last year at this time; that includes over 6,000 people fed.

Obviously, the White Center Food Bank needs help.

The Food Drive begins Thursday Nov. 13th, and continues through Dec. 21st. It will be located at Shorewood Foursquare Church & Christian School, which is located at 10300 28th Av SW, Seattle, WA 98146.

There will be a food bin available 24/7 located just outside the entrance to the building for the public to leave their food donations. Shorewood Foursquare Church will also accept monetary donations made out to “White Center Food Bank” in their office.

White Center Food Bank is asking for donations of holiday foods for the food drive, including:

• Chicken or Turkey Broth
• Gravy Mixes
• Stuffing Mixes
• Fruit Cocktail
• Whole Olives
• Jello or Pudding Mixes
• Canned Pumpkin
• Canned Cranberry Sauce
• Condensed or Evaporated Milk
• Canned vegetables
• Canned yams or sweet potatoes
• $5 gift certificates to QFC, Albertsons or Safeway

For further information you can contact Shorewood Foursquare Church & Christian School at 206-932-0186.

by Mark Neuman

The White Center Food Bank’s Harvest Dinner and Auction last Saturday (Oct. 18th) was “festive and well attended,” according to the Food Bank’s Volunteer and Resource coordinator Audrey Zemke.

The annual event was held at the Jerry Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College.

“We raised about $50,000,” Audrey said.

She reports this was down from last year’s auction.

“But our corporate and group sponsorship was much better this year.”

Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Enrique Cerna of local public television station KCTS, “did a great job.”

“We can always use the help of volunteers,” Audrey said,  “particularly in the area of customer service.”

Many of the Food Bank’s clients do not use English as a primary language.

“We could especially utilize the help of volunteers who are proficient not only in English, but Russian, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Spanish as well” Audrey said.

Feel free to drop off items to the Food Bank at 10829 8th Ave SW whenever you can – open hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 5pm..

“Canned goods, dry cereal and such easily prepared things as Rice-A-Roni and Hamburger Helper are great,” says Audrey.

“And diapers for the babies. You can never have enough diapers!”

And as always, we at the White Center Blog encourage everyone to donate directly online, easily and securely, by clicking here.

And remember – no amount is too small!

White Center Food Bank
10829 8th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146

www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
Phone: 206-762-2848

In these tough and uncertain economic times, our friends at the White Center Food Bank would like to remind everyone of their upcoming Fourth Annual Harvest Dinner and Auction.

It’ll be Saturday, Oct. 18 at South Seattle Community College’s Brockey Center (map below).

“This Harvest Dinner and Auction is more important than ever for us,” said Rick Jump, Executive Director of the White Center Food Bank. “The economy is impacting many of our donors as well as our clients.

“We have had a fifty-percent increase in the number of clients in need as compared to this time last year.”

To reserve a ticket or table, contact Rick or his volunteer staff at the Food Bank at 206-762-2848

Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Enrique Cerna of local public television station KCTS.

Rachel Glass will lead the live auction.

“I saw Rachel at a another event recently,” Rick said. “And she is a darn good auctioneer.”

Who does the White Center Food Bank help, exactly? They help Human Beings: infants and girls and boys. Grandparents and moms and dads, neighbors just down the street.

Details:

• Doors open at 5:30pm, when the first of two silent auctions begin
• There will be a Dessert Dash, and dinner (choice of sirloin steak, northwest salmon or cheese ravioli, or marinara/vegetable medley) will be served at 7:30pm
• There will be great local entertainment as well: “Dances of the World” with international dancers from Mexico, Vietnam & Cambodia
• Call the Food Bank right away, please, to reserve your seat or table: 206-762-2848
• Seats are $60 each and can be held with a Visa, Mastercard or Discover card

If you can’t make it to the auction, you can also easily donate directly online here.

White Center Food Bank
10829 8th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146
www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
Phone 206-762-2848


View Larger Map

Rick Jump, Executive Director of the White Center Food Bank reports that they’re facing “critical shortages of food right now,” and they could use all the help they can get.

We co-sponsored a fundraiser for them in late August, where we raised enough food and funds to feed two area families for a month, but due to the recent economic downturn, things have worsened.

Some options for helping out include:

• Go to their office at 10829 8th Ave SW (Phone: 206.762.2848) and donate a grocery bag of food (or whatever you can afford); please drop off any items Monday-Friday between the hours of 8.30 am and 5.00 pm; items especially needed include:
  • Cereal
  • Dry Variety (i.e. hamburger helper, Rice a Roni, etc.)
  • Beans
  • Rice
  • Canned Meat (Everything but Tuna)
• Send them a check at:

• White Center Food Bank
  10829 8th Ave SW
  Seattle WA 98146

• Click on the “Donate Now” PSA Ad on our right sidebar and donate directly online
• Click on the GoodSearch logo below and do all your internet searches there – for every search you do, funds are raised and deposited directly into the WCFB account!:

Stay tuned of course to the White Center Blog, as one thing that sets this site apart from others is that we try act as an “agent for change” for the community we report on – we’re planning on doing another fundraiser soon.