For this Wednesday’s Maple Leaf Summer Social, bring yourselves, kids and dogs – and something else: A donation – food or money – for the North Helpline food bank.
The social runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (note the earlier start time) at Maple Leaf Reservoir Park, Roosevelt Way Northeast at about Northeast 82nd Street. Among the 40 or so 50 tables will be one with donation barrels for and information about North Helpline.
The food bank, which serves northeast Seattle including Maple Leaf and Wedgwood, is struggling to meet vastly increased needs with decreased donations.
A plea last month brought in enough food to meet demand, but only temporarily.
“Today, my food bank manager conducted an inventory review and while we will get through the next few weeks, things look dire thereafter,” Amy Besunder, director of North Helpline, emailed today.
“In just 24 months we have seen a 63% increase in our client base and in August, a new (Seattle Housing Authority) building for 100 low-income families will open on our block. We are looking forward to having more affordable housing for struggling families, but I am definitely losing sleep in terms of thinking about my food stock and increased demand.”
She listed her needs for the next few months, and what it would cost if the food bank had to buy the food instead of getting it through donations.
- 140 cases of Apple Juice $1,277
- ½ Tomato Sauce and ½ Diced Tomatos @ 70 cases each $1,747
- 140 Cases of Pork and Beans $2,218
- 70 Cases of Tuna $1,277
- 1/3 Chicken Noodle Soup, 1/3 Tomato Soup, 1/3 Vegetable Soup 140 Cases in total at $2,100
- 140 Cases of Ramen Noodles at $840
- 140 Cases of Spaghetti $2,436
- 140 Cases of Mac & Cheese $1,344
- 100 Bags of 50# Rice $2,150
Total: Over $17,000. “Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of money to spend so if you can get the word out that those are our needs, it would be great,” Besunder said.
Don’t want to lug food to the park?
You can donate at the North Helpline, 12736 33rd Ave. N.E., or at barrels at these businesses:
- Walgreens Drug Store,14352 Lake City Way N.E.
