PORT ANGELES — Two major food drives for the Port Angeles Food Bank raised an estimated 12,000 pounds of food to help those who are in need put dinner on the table this holiday season and into the winter.
That, plus cash received from the drives, is expected to feed families until at least February.
However, Jessica Hernandez, the executive director of the food bank, is concerned the food won’t last into the spring, as it has in past years, because of a dramatic increase in families asking for help.
The food bank is “still processing like crazy” the thousands of pounds of food brought in by KONP radio’s Nov. 20 Food-a-Thon and the Port Angeles Fire Department’s Operation Candy Cane in December, Hernandez said.
‘Humbled’ by help
“I’m so humbled by all of the agencies and organizations that have helped,” she added.
The Fire Department’s 1956 Seagrave fire engine, decorated in holiday lights, traveled city streets from Dec. 6-11 and collected nonperishable food from residents and businesses.
“We got an average of 2,000 pounds of food per night,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said the Fire Department collected 11,219 pounds of food and $2,000 in cash donations during the volunteers’ travels, which she noted took place during the wettest nights in the past few years.
“The weather was crazy,” she said.
Among the Operation Candy Cane food donations was 600 pounds of food gathered by the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge No. 996.
“It’s our main effort,” said Doug Richmond, lodge administrator.
Hernandez estimated that the Food-a-Thon conducted with the Port Angeles Lions Club brought in 780 pounds of food as well as a lot of cash, which will be used to buy food.
She spent a day on the radio during the event.
“It was a total hoot. We got $35,000 in pledges,” Hernandez said.
So far, about $25,000 has been received from those pledges, she said.
Need great
While the food drives were very successful, she said, the increase in people applying for food assistance has outpaced the supply, with a steep increase in families being served.
In November, the food bank provided Thanksgiving meals to about 1,000 families.
In 2013, it served only 450 families.
“It’s tapping into our cash resources,” Hernandez said.
A variety of families are served by the food bank, she said.
Some families receiving food are working and just need a little help to stretch a food budget to the end of the month, while others may rely on the food bank for a large portion of their diets.
Homeless recipients can receive food weekly and are given selections that do not require kitchen equipment to prepare, Hernandez said.
An additional program provides weekend food bags to some low-income elementary and middle school children in the Port Angeles and Crescent school districts, she said.
Hernandez said the food bank has a new section for people with food restrictions, offering gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher options.
Not long ago, food banks operated on a good-for-all “food is food” method of distribution, she said, but with a rise in serious food allergies and food-related medical issues, the Port Angeles Food Bank has made changes to help those who are on limited diets.
“When people come who may have celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, we want to be able to help them,” she said.
She said several suppliers have been generous in donating specialty gluten-free breads and other foods.
When it’s open
The food bank is open to distribute food from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Recipients must be registered, and families are required to submit proof of residence and identification for each member to receive food assistance.
Applicants for food assistance can pick up food once a month from the distribution center at 402 S. Valley St.
Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
Application forms for volunteers are available at the food bank during business hours, Hernandez said.
For more information, call 360-452-8568.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.