 | Striving to eliminate hunger in our community — Neighbors helping neighbors since 1972 | Food Distribution Hours Monday, Wednesday 2nd & 4th Wednesdays |
| Striving to eliminate hunger in our community — Neighbors helping neighbors since 1972 | Food Distribution Hours Monday, Wednesday 2nd & 4th Wednesdays |
The goal of the Food Bank's produce program is to increase the amount of fresh produce available to clients throughout the year. The Food Bank strives to meet the needs of clients; having more fresh produce is a priority. With the help of community support, Kiwanis Food Bank Gardens, gleaning efforts, school gardens and backyard gardeners, the Food Bank is striving for this goal. In 2010, the Food Bank received approximately 295,000 pounds of fresh local produce from donors.
The Food Bank has a long standing partnership with the Olympia Kiwanis. The Kiwanis have planted, tended, and harvested gardens in four locations throughout the community. All of the produce from these gardens are donated to the Food Bank, 25,000 pounds in 2010. This number grows yearly as the Kiwanis continue to expand their efforts of this project while assisting other community groups in setting up food bank gardens. The Food Bank is very appreciative of this hard work and extended dedication.
The Food Bank would like to recognize other community partners that support our efforts to provide fresh produce to those in need:
Intel DuPont Community Gardens
Helsing Junction Farm
Kirsop Farm
St. Mark Lutheran Church
Left Food Organics
Parker Produce
Wendell Berry Community Garden
And many others . . . .
The Food Bank hosts an annual Food Bank Growers' Meeting in early February. The meeting invites home gardeners, farmers, local schools, and individuals to attend a discussion on produce for the Food Bank. This is a great opportunity for growers to meet one another and become aware of current projects in the community. One can learn of updates on current community projects, information on how to become involved, discussions on best practices for donating, and what to grow. Every year the Food Bank tries to improve the organization of our operation and at the same time create a greater selection of produce grown, donated, and distributed to clients. If you are interested in growing food for the food bank, please download our Produce Growers' Guide for more information and ideas.
Gleaners harvest surplus produce from a farm, orchard, or garden. Often, after growers complete their harvest, plentiful amounts of quality produce are left behind in their fields. The grower may then choose to invite gleaners to harvest the leftover produce. The Food Bank has established a relationship with a number of local farms. Our Gleaning Coordinator schedules gleaning times and locations. We contact our gleaning volunteers with a schedule of gleaning events, and provide them with transportation to the sites. Some choose to provide their own transportation. The produce is then transported to the Food Bank where it is distributed to clients.